The Planetree model holds that all individuals are caregivers and have the ability to influence the experience of patients and their families. Every employee and volunteer at Griffin Hospital understands that they are caregivers and act as such.
The focus is on human beings caring for other human beings. This includes providing choices and personalized care for patients and families as well as creating an organizational culture that supports and nurtures staff. For example, concierge-like volunteers, members of the hospital’s Ambassador Program, greet patients in the lobby and escort them to service departments. Valet parking is free. Nursing practice is defined by a primary nursing model.
Patients are expected to become partners in their treatment and care. An open chart policy encourages patients to read and write in the Patient’s Progress Notes, and a self-medication program enables patients to keep medications at the bedside and assume responsibility for their administration.
Collaborative care conferences, at which diagnosis, treatment, and post-hospital care needs are discussed, are held within 48 hours of admission and include the patient, the primary care nurse, the attending physicians, social worker, and family members (with the patient’s permission). On the day of admission, each patient receives an individualized Patient Information Packet, which includes Patient Pathways that describe in lay terms the day-by-day plan of care and potential tests and procedures. Patient and family libraries with Internet access are available on every patient care unit. At Griffin, patients have free access to 64 television channels including a hospital patient bulletin board, a meditation channel and an education channel.
The Planetree model supports and encourages involvement of family and significant others whenever possible, offering unrestricted visiting hours (including the ICU and ED) and allowing family presence during invasive procedures and resuscitation. The Care Partner Program provides education and training to help families assist in the care of patients while hospitalized and at home after discharge. In addition, families are encouraged to stay overnight whenever possible.
Griffin Hospital provides a comprehensive healing environment for patients, from the way the physical environment is designed to the quality of the food to the integration of spiritual services. Physically, Griffin Hospital is home-like and non-institutional. By removing architectural barriers, the design encourages patient and family involvement. Spaces are provided for both solitude and social activities, including libraries, kitchens, lounges, activity rooms, chapels, gardens and overnight accommodation for families.
The traditional nursing station was replaced with decentralized nursing stations for every four to six beds. Patient rooms are a mixture of private and semi private (identified as desirable in patient surveys); the unique semi private room design offers more privacy by separating the beds with the shared bath.
Nutrition is integral to healing, essential not only for good health, but is a source of pleasure, comfort and familiarity. Griffin has become a role model for delicious, healthy eating, with kitchens available throughout the facility to encourage families to bring the patient’s favorite food from home or prepare meals for themselves. Volunteers bake bread, muffins and cookies to provide “aromatherapy” and create a nurturing environment. Patient room service is modeled after hotel room service.
Musicians, storytellers, clowns and artists create an atmosphere of serenity and playfulness in the Planetree model. Volunteers work with patients who would like to create their own art, while musicians, poets and storytellers from the local community help to expand the boundaries of the healthcare facility.
Finally, the Planetree model recognizes the vital role of spirituality in healing the whole person. Supporting patients, families and staff in connecting with their own inner resources creates a more healing environment. Chapels, gardens and meditation rooms provide opportunities for reflection and prayer. Chaplains are seen as vital members of the health care team.
Touch, an essential way of communicating caring, is often omitted from the clinical setting. Massage and Reiki are available for patients, families and staff. Training programs for volunteers to teach hand and foot rubs, and internship programs for massage therapists keep costs minimal. Families, as part of the Care Partner Program, can also be taught to give massages to loved ones while in the hospital and at home. Chair massage helps nurses, doctors and other staff relieve stress and re-energize.
To meet growing consumer demand for complementary therapies, Griffin Hospital has instituted heart disease reversal programs and mind/body medicine interventions (e.g. meditation, healing guided imagery, therapeutic massage, therapeutic touch, acupuncture, Tai Chi and yoga). Aromatherapy’s calming effect on agitated patients is useful during labor and MRI’s. Twenty-two specially trained certified dogs visit patients on request, in recognition of research showing that pet therapy can elevate mood, lower blood pressure and enhance social interaction.
The Planetree Community Health Resource Center, open to the community, is a lending library that houses one of the largest collections of lay and professional health and medical publications in the US, as well as an extensive collection of audio and video resources on a wide range of topics, including complimentary therapies. Resource Center staff are trained to assist patients and families in researching medical information. Over 20,000 users access the Center annually, and over 9,000 residents of the community have library cards.
Working with schools, senior centers, churches and other community partners, Griffin Hospital is redefining health care to include the health and wellness of the larger community. Griffin’s Community Outreach Program includes the largest parish nurse program in the country with 35 community churches and their parishioners. Last year, the program served over 32,000 people providing screenings, education, and referrals to needed services. In 2005, the program became the coordinator of the community’s Safe Kids chapter serving 23,305 youth in two years.
