Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month

Background

Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month is a global awareness-building campaign that occurs every October to commemorate the progress that has been made toward making patient-centered care a reality and to build momentum for further progress through education and collaboration. This year’s theme is “Building Patient Confidence.” Hospitals and health care organizations around the world are encouraged to celebrate by empowering patients, strengthening their patient-centered practices and publicly proclaiming to their patients and communities their commitment to patient-centered care.

How can you participate?
1. Promote your organization’s patient-centered practices. Download the free materials below including the logo, sample press release, sample newsletter article and other materials such as stickers for staff stating, “I am listening” and stickers for patients stating, “I’m an Expert about Me.”

2. Spread the word and encourage colleagues, clients and like-minded organizations to participate

3. Provide resources and information to be shared on the website in October. Contact Danielle Swift at dswift@planetree.org

4. Build your knowledge of patient-centered approaches and building patient confidence this October. The website will feature many free articles, links and tools offering practical implementation insights about supporting patients and families through improved communication, personal health records, care partners and more which leads to greater patient confidence.

Suggested Ways to Celebrate Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month

Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month is an international awareness-building campaign to commemorate the progress that has been made toward making patient-centered care a reality and to build momentum for further progress through education and collaboration. Now in its sixth year, hospitals and healthcare organizations around the world are commemorating the month. In addition, several state governors have signed proclamations recognizing the celebration.

Health care organizations are encouraged to celebrate by:

  • Reviewing and utilizing the Same Page Transitions tool kit located under resources on this website
  • Holding a meeting of the patient and family advisory council or creating a patient and family advisory council if one doesn’t already exist.
  • Inviting patients or family members to join hospital committees.
  • Sharing information with staff and the community about patient satisfaction surveys such as HCAHPS along with additional patient perspectives and suggestions that have been implemented and other patient-centered strategies that have been adopted.
  • Hosting an open house for patients and families.
  • Displaying the Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month logo on your website and utilizing social media (blogs, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) to promote the month and your organization’s patient centric programs
  • Writing a letter to the editor of the local paper describing the hospital’s commitment to patient-centered care and identifying the opportunities for patients and families to get involved. Commenting on blogs about improving patient experiences by customizing care and building partnerships between providers and patients
  •  Displaying and/or distributing the Proclamation for Patient-Centered Care.  (Complimentary customized copies are available from Planetree.)
  • Distributing “I am an expert about me” stickers to patients or “I am listening” stickers to staff to reinforce that patients are respected partners. Click here to order stickers
  • Committing to developing a care partner program to involve loved ones and familiarize them in the care of the patient in the hospital and after discharge.
  • Inviting local and state elected officials to tour your community to showcase your healing environment and any new features and programs designed to personalize, humanize and demystify their health care experience.
  • Read Planetree’s award-winning book,  Putting Patients First
  • Visit www.patient-centeredcare.org and www.residentcenteredcare.org to download copies of the free Patient-Centered Care Improvement Guide and Long-Term Care Improvement Guide

Patients and families also are encouraged to become more active participants in their healthcare and to partner with their hospitals. Specific suggestions include creating and/or updating medication and allergies list, reviewing the guidelines for a hospital stay, joining a patient/family advisory committee, and providing feedback (positive or negative) to healthcare providers.

Download Resources  

Stay Connected with us:

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Contact us with questions and comments and please tell us how you plan to celebrate

Danielle Swift
Director of Communications and Public Relations
203-732-1431
dswift@planetree.org