Healthcare is an important aspect of life and the level and quality of it very much depend on the individuals in charge, those who organize and provide for the patients. Planetree Model was founded by a patient in 1978. It centers on the patient and their personal needs. It is a system that is new and creative and takes an extra step, in providing the best possible environment for healing.
One of the criteria that Planetree strongly enforces is the human interaction and the personal choices of the patients. The architecture of the building creates an opportunity for people to communicate. If a person wants some private time there are places made specifically for that reason. But for the most part, human contact is welcomed and reinforced. People can distract themselves by talking to others and sharing their experiences. Planetree realizes the importance of family and the power that it has in the healing process. Often, hospitals have certain visiting hours, which are very uncomfortable for both family and the patient. At Planetree, the family is encouraged to actively participate in the healing process and contribute in any way they choose. Special accommodations are available for families, with kitchens, which they are welcome to use, overnight quarters, and classes where they can also participate. It was proven that family has a great effect on the healing of the person where a patient feels the support and love of close and distant relatives. Patients are welcome to participate in numerous arts and crafts classes with a warm atmosphere. Volunteers take baking classes and go around the hospital spreading their cheer. Planetree also treats patients’ spiritual or psychological side. Sometimes, people sit in their empty rooms without anything to do, they feel bored, lonely and depression overtakes their whole being. But at Planetree, the staff very much care for the person’s moral well-being. It is the key to healing the body because the person is full of hope and is morally set on the positive outcome. Nutrition is given great attention at Planetree. It is also a distraction activity and is very pleasurable. Patients are given a chance to cook their favorite foods or let family members bring their preferred meals from home (Planetree: Family Support, 2010). The high-quality kitchen staff and patients themselves, create an atmosphere with all kinds of aromas, which adds to the overall feeling of familiarity and friendship. There is even an open-chart policy, which allows patients to read the medical notes and history so that they take a part in their treatment. This allows them to have medicine by their side and be educated on the factors that are necessary for their healing process. The friendly atmosphere that Planetree creates also works great for the staff. The medical personnel is working in a friendlier environment, benefiting from the good moods of the patients. They consider the work experience more “fun” and rewarding because the patients are not constantly displeased and “cranky” and thus do not take out their negative emotions on the staff. Such a positive work environment increases productivity, as well as the want to advance the care even further. The medical community acknowledges the positive environment that Planetree has created. There are very many members of Planetree all over the country. Some of them are in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Columbia, Florida, even Alaska, and many other places (Planetree, n.d.). This proves that more and more people realize how important patient-centered care is.
References
MCMC Channel. (2010). Planetree: Family support. [Press Release]. Web.
Planetree. (n.d.). Web.