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When to Recommend CaringBridge

Help your patients connect with their support community. Download these tips as a pdf.

Indications

  • Complex diagnosis/treatment
  • Rapidly changing
    medical condition
  • Constantly on the phone
  • Far from home
  • Limited support
  • Communication burden
  • Overwhelmed
  • Stressed
  • Extended hospital stay
  • Isolation
    (physical and emotional)

Health events

  • Cancer
  • Serious injury
  • Heart attack
  • Premature birth
  • Pregnancy complications
  • Major surgery
  • Stroke
  • Palliative care
  • Extended recovery
  • Rehabilitation

Whom to approach

  • Patient
  • Parent
  • Spouse/Partner
  • Sibling
  • Family member
  • Close friend

What to Say

About CaringBridge

CaringBridge is a free service.

It helps patients, caregivers and families easily share health updates with loved ones through a personal and private website. CaringBridge:
  • Reduces the time and emotional energy spent on repeated phone calls and e-mails
  • Keeps everyone informed with the same accurate information
  • Allows loved ones to post messages of encouragement and support that you can read when it's convenient for you

It's private and simple to create and use.

  1. Visit www.CaringBridge.org from any computer with an Internet connection

  2. Click on "Create a Website" and follow the easy directions

  3. Invite family and friends to visit your site, read your health updates and leave you messages

How to answer patient/family FAQs

+How do you create a website?
+What training do I need to create my site?
  • No training is needed. Setting up a CaringBridge site is a simple, three-step process that takes just a few minutes. Individuals with little computer experience can easily set up a site without help.
+Does CaringBridge require special software?
  • No. CaringBridge is web-based, so all you need is a connection to the Internet.
+What if I have a question about how to use CaringBridge?
  • CaringBridge handles customer care.
  • FAQs help is available 24/7
  • Live customer support is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Standard Time, weekdays.
  • 98% of problems are resolved within 24 hours
+Is CaringBridge safe and private?
  • You control the information on your private site
  • Visitors have to know the name of your site to gain access
  • CaringBridge offers website privacy levels so authors can manage who accesses their site
  • For more information, please view the CaringBridge Privacy Policy
+What should we write?
  • You control the communication; you can decide what information you wish to share with your family and friends
  • Your healthcare professional can help you explain medical terms in a way your family will understand
  • View an example: Sarah's Journey
+What does CaringBridge cost?
  • It's completely free! As a nonprofit, CaringBridge is soley dedicated to serving families facing a significant health challenge. It is focused on family needs, not on generating profits. CaringBridge is available to anyone for free and our websites do not have any advertising.

Other considerations

Does the hospital have to have a relationship with CaringBridge for a patient to use it?
  • No. Some hospitals partner with CaringBridge to ensure their patients and caregivers know about the service, but CaringBridge is available to any patient experiencing a significant health challenge.
What about HIPAA?
  • A healthcare professional may recommend CaringBridge and help patients find out how to create a personal site without violating HIPAA. Patients control the information that is disclosed on their personal CaringBridge site. To learn more about how to comply with HIPAA in recommending CaringBridge, please see our Terms of Use.
Why is CaringBridge more appropriate than Facebook?
  • CaringBridge is designed for sharing a personal and important health journey. Facebook and other social networks are better suited for socializing, entertainment and other topics.

Find out if your facility is currently partnering with us at www.caringbridge.org/partners/healthcare/list/all.

Become a Recommender!

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76,300 CaringBridge sites have been created due to a recommendation at a healthcare facility.

 

With CaringBridge I was able to share my deepest thoughts, wishes and prayers without leaving Madison's bedside. 

— Beth Beck, Madison's mom

 
 

Support Materials

Find out about resources to help you connect patients to CaringBridge.

 
Recommend CaringBridge is a program of CaringBridge.org
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