Planetree Awards Indianapolis VAMC
Bronze Recognition was awarded following a series of focus groups with Veterans and their loved ones, as well as staff. Considered collectively, these discussions attest to a genuine culture of patient-centered care.
Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center has been awarded Planetree Bronze Recognition for Meaningful Progress in Patient-Centered Care. The medical center is the first health care organization in Indiana to be awarded Bronze-level recognition since Planetree first introduced the
recognition level in 2012.
What distinguishes Planetree Recognition from other health care quality awards is its distinctive focus on patient-centered care, defined as a
model of care delivery in which health care professionals partner with patients and families to identify and satisfy the full range of patient needs and preferences. The award is decided on a variety of factors, including performance on traditional quality indicators, review of policy documents and, most importantly, how patients and staff assess the organization’s patient-centered culture. Bronze Recognition was awarded to the medical center following a series of focus groups with Veterans and their loved ones, as well as staff from a multitude of disciplines and divisions within the hospital. Considered collectively, these discussions with Veterans and staff attested to a genuine culture of patient-centered care.
“The experience of Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center shows what can be accomplished when a team of deeply committed, supremely innovative and highly-driven caregivers take the courageous leap to re-define priorities and re-organize systems to put Veterans first,” shared Susan Frampton, Planetree’s President.
A Planetree affiliate since 2010, the achievement of Bronze Recognition is a significant milestone in the organization’s culture change journey, demonstrating that effective policies, practices, tools, and systems are in place to meet a broad range of veteran, family, and professional health care giver needs and preferences.
“This recognition shows how truly dedicated the staff at our facility are when it comes to patient-centered care. We knew that we were moving in the right direction, this recognition proves it. Congratulations to all of you and thank you for always putting our Veterans first!” comments Deb Thayer, Chief Office of Patient Centered Care.
The program is an extension of Planetree’s established Patient-Centered Hospital Designation Program®, the only program to recognize excellence in patient-centered care across the continuum of care and around the world. Health care organizations awarded Patient-Centered Hospital Designation® undergo a rigorous process to demonstrate comprehensive implementation and maintenance of patient-centered care, as captured in more than 50 specific criteria. This criteria include a shared medical record policy, nonrestrictive visiting practices, opportunities for patient and family input into health center operations, healthy and flexible meal options, recognition of the role of spirituality and the arts in healing, and a physical environment that facilitates privacy, promotes open communication between patients and providers, and is accommodating of family members’ involvement in their loved one’s care. Recognizing that ultimately the patient experience originates with those providing care, several criteria focus on nurturing a work environment that is supportive of staff.
“Planetree awards Bronze Recognition for Meaningful Progress in Patient-Centered Care to celebrate organizations’ progress along the culture change journey,” said Frampton. “In this spirit, we look forward to witnessing how the team at Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center builds on this achievement to take its commitment to delivering patient-centered care to even greater heights.”
Founded in 1978 by a San Francisco patient who endured a traumatic health care experience, Planetree is an international, not-for-profit organization that partners with health care organizations to personalize, humanize, and demystify the healthcare experience by putting the needs of individuals first.
To achieve this aim, Planetree guides organizations through a structured process that enables and inspires caregivers to transform the health care experience they provide. With its model of patient-/resident-centered care being implemented in a diverse range of hospitals, continuing care facilities, outpatient clinics, and consumer health libraries, Planetree is demonstrating that patient-/resident-centered care is not only an empowering philosophy, but a viable, vital, and cost-effective model of care.
