October Patient-Centered Care Awareness month
What is Patient-Centered Care Awareness month?
October is Patient-Centered Care Awareness month, when North Valley Hospital encourages staff to refocus on the importance of patient-centered care and educate patients and the community about our Planetree philosophy. This year, staff are invited to write on chalkboards throughout the hospital to answer the question “What makes you Planetree?” Staff has weighed in with answers such as “I am a patient advocate,” “I am compassionate,” and “I am a listener.” This project is a month-long reminder of North Valley Hospital’s commitment to the Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care.
What does patient-centered care mean?
Patient-centered care means that healthcare providers treat the patient as a person, not as a medical condition, and that communication between providers and patients is open and fluid, allowing for more understanding and a calming, healing experience for the patient. This is a core part North Valley Hospital’s Planetree philosophy, which promotes patient-centered care in a healing environment. The Planetree philosophy was developed by a patient in 1978 and began in San Francisco, California. North Valley Hospital has been an affiliate since 2002. The hospital will be celebrating the 15th anniversary as a Planetree affiliate next year, and it’s a designation that the entire community recognizes. The proclamation for patient-centered care is a document adhered to by staff at North Valley Hospital, and it expresses the importance of communication, allowing patients to make decisions, involving family members in medical care, and offering access to health information.
How is patient-centered care unique at
North Valley Hospital?
At North Valley Hospital, patient-centered care is a key component in daily hospital operations. North Valley Hospital offers a healing environment, nutritional food, complementary therapies, and an understanding, personalized approach to hospital care. North Valley Hospital staff pride themselves on being a Planetree hospital and all employees and staff work as caregivers to create a better hospital experience for patients and visitors. At North Valley Hospital, creating a patient-centered culture guides all decisions from conversations between patients and caregivers to budgeting, from hospital architecture and design to services and providers. Patient-centered care also means prioritizing patient safety and well-being, and all hospital departments work diligently to maintain the safest environment for patients, visitors and employees.
How does this help our community?
Patient-centered care integrates the hospital into the greater community by establishing the core value of mutual respect, and ensuring that all patients feel understood and respected during their hospital stay. By recognizing the importance of patient-centered care, North Valley Hospital acknowledges a place in the community of service and support, and recognizes that a positive impact in the community is beneficial to all.
Allison Linville is the Community Relations Coordinator at North Valley Hospital.