(Camden, New Jersey) Cooper University Hospital is pleased to announce that the Patient-Family Centered Care Program will receive a 2008 Spirit of Planetree Award for Cooper’s 2007 annual report and the creation of “Our Journey to Patient Family Centered Care” DVD. Only eleven awards are given out each year to affiliates across the United States.
“Cooper University Hospital prides itself on the importance of patient and family support within the hospital; and continues to work with our employees on providing a level of compassion to not only patients, but family members and fellow employees,” said John P. Sheridan, Jr., President and CEO of Cooper University Hospital.
Diane Flaherty, RN, MSN, MBA, Director of Patient-Family Centered Care, has spearheaded the implementation of the Planetree model of patient-centered care, focusing on service excellence and providing meaningful opportunities for patients and families to be actively involved in their care. A team of staff and senior leaders explored philosophies and approaches that would best support the organization in achieving their vision. By the end of the summer of 2007, nearly 2,500 employees were introduced to the Planetree philosophy.
Some of Cooper’s Patient Family-Centered Care initiatives include hand massages for patients, live musicians in lobby areas, a drop in de-stress center for staff and the installation of decibel readers on nursing units to assist in creating a quiet healing environment.
“We certainly hope that when patients and their loved ones come to Cooper University Hospital they feel safe, secure and well-cared for,” said Diane Flaherty. “But we consider these the minimum expectations for care. As a hospital committed to providing patient-centered care, we want patients who come here to expect to be treated as partners in their own care.”
Beginning October 1st, Cooper will join other Planetree affiliate sites from across the country in commemorating the second annual Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month. In celebration, various activities for patients and employees have been planned throughout the month. Cooper will hold a kick-off ceremony on October 2nd to recognize Cooper’s staff for their personal commitment to providing patient-family centered care.