| North Valley Hospital will join Planetree, as well as hospitals and health care organizations around the world this October, to commemorate the fifth annual Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month.
“While October is officially Patient-Centered Care Awareness month, North Valley Hospital embraces this culture every day of the year,” says Jason Spring, CEO of North Valley Hospital. “It is the very essence of why we are here – to treat patients and their families with the respect they deserve and welcome them into our care with compassion and openness.”
North Valley Hospital’s success in consistently providing exceptional-quality medical care that focuses on the patient’s mind, body and spirit has resulted in high national rankings for patient satisfaction. According to the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS), North Valley Hospital ranks in the upper 5% of hospitals nationwide for how patients rate the hospital overall, and for patients saying they would “definitely recommend” the hospital to others.
“It’s evident from these results that patients recognize all of the hard work we’ve put into making patient care a priority,” says Mary Sterhan, Planetree Coordinator. “We’re honored to be recognized so highly among all US hospitals regardless of size and location.”
For nine years, North Valley Hospital has practiced the Planetree model of healthcare which focuses on providing patient-centered care in a healing environment. It empowers patients and families through information and education, and encourages “healing partnerships” with care givers. Today, there are more than 100 Planetree hospitals in the country.
Since embracing the philosophy, North Valley Hospital has identified key areas of focus in creating a patient-centered facility here in the north valley. They include: Healing design and arts, open communication, exemplary customer service, health resources library & education, complementary therapies, family/friends support, nutritious food, and spirituality. Each of these areas is steered by a committee comprised of staff, physicians and community members.
As part of this celebration month, North Valley Hospital Respiratory Therapist, Erin Reed, RT, will be recognized for her personal embodiment of the values of patient-centered care at the annual Spirit of Planetree Awards on November 2nd during the 2011 Planetree Annual Conference in Nashville, TN.
About Planetree:
Founded in 1978 by a San Francisco patient who endured a traumatic hospitalization, Planetree has been at the forefront of the effort to personalize, humanize and demystify the healthcare system for three decades. Today, the Planetree membership network is a global community of acute care hospitals, continuing care facilities, and outpatient clinics, each at various phases of the journey to transform their healthcare by considering every aspect of the healthcare experience from the perspective of their patients, and reconnecting staff to their passion for caring for others. A list of Planetree hospitals and a list of questions patients should ask hospitals are available at www.planetree.org.
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