Planetree

What is Planetree and where did it come from.

The Planetree Philosophy was founded in 1978 by a patient, Angelica Thieriot, after several traumatic hospital experiences. Her experience left her with mixed emotions- the high-tech environment was commendable, but the lack of personalized care during her stay was appalling.

Nurses hurried in and out of her room without becoming familiar with her as an individual, not to mention familiarizing themselves with her medical chart. She spent hours staring at blank walls, which left her feeling lonely and afraid.

She formalized her vision of a new type of hospital where patients get the support and healing on all levels. A place where individuals could learn more about healthcare and medicine in order to become active participants in their own care and well-being. She founded the Planetree organization, taking it’s name from the tree that Hippocrates sat under to teach the very first medical students in ancient Greece. In 1985, with the same commitment of Hippocrates, Planetree was created. A 13-bed medical/surgical unit in a large San Francisco medical center became the first Planetree unit in the country.

Since then, Planetree has been an internationally recognized leader in pioneering patient-centered care. Planetree has received national recognition with feature articles in Prevention Magazine, Healthcare Forum Journal, Hospital & Health Networks, Nursing Times, New York Times, The Quality Letter for Healthcare Leaders, Health Facilities Management, Trustee Magazine, JAMA, and Newsweek Japan.

In more than 100 health care settings throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe Planetree is demonstrating that patient-centered care is not only empowering as a philosophy, but viable, vital and cost effective as a practice. Planetree affiliate sites are currently operating in a variety of health care settings, with individual adaptations incorporated by each site to meet its unique needs. These affiliates range from small rural hospitals (25 beds) to large urban medical centers (2163 beds), and include acute and critical care, emergency departments, long term care, outpatient services, as well as ambulatory care and community health centers.

Columbia Memorial Hospital became a Planetree affiliated hospital on December 26, 2000 and has been incorporating the Planetree philosophy throughout the hospital. Although much has been accomplished, we are continuing to expand our offerings as a Planetree hospital and are excited about the many changes planned for the future. From the redesign of interior spaces to the new Healing Garden, from open medical records to open visiting hours, and care partners to pet therapy, much has been accomplished in improving not only our patient experience, but the staff experience as well.

Human Interactions
Planetree is about human beings caring for and serving other human beings. This involves not only the provision of nurturing, compassionate, personalized care to patients and families, but just as important, how staff care for themselves and each other. Experiential staff retreats sensitize staff to the anatomy of a hospital experience from the patient’s perspective and better enable them to holistically serve the patient. Healing partnerships between patients, family members and caregivers are encouraged by a care model which enables patients to be active participants in their health care.

Empowering Patients through Information and Education
Planetree’s patient-centered model of care and consumer-sensitive healing approach is an idea whose time has truly come. In this era of health care consumerism, there is a rapidly expanding mass of educated and empowered consumers demanding more involvement in their health care. Planetree’s model delivers!

Planetree emphasise patient and family education. The open chart policy at Columbia Memorial Hospital enables patients to read their own medical records during their hospitalization if they wish. This opportunity allows the patient to better understand his or her care.

Columbia Memorial Hospital recognizes that the experience of illness has the potential to transform the patient. It can be a time of great personal growth for the patient as life goals and values are reevaluated, priorities are clarified, and inner resources are discovered. A variety of educational materials and classes are made available to the patient, the family and the community through our education department and quarterly Health Compass newsletter. Video and audio education is available, at kiosks in the hospital or on-line in the “Your Health & Educations” link at www.columbiamemorial.org.

The Importance of Family, Friends, and Social Support
At Columbia Memorial Hospital we know and understand how important your support group of family, friends and even your pets are to your healing process. Social support has been shown to be vital to good health. An increasing number of medical and social researchers are finding that anything that promotes a sense of love and intimacy, connection and community is healing. Columbia Memorial Hospital supports and encourages involvement of family and significant others whenever possible. The Care Partner Program provides education and training to assist family and friends participation in the care of patients while hospitalized and at home after discharge. As part of the health care team, significant others can make a valuable contribution to the quality of the patient’s hospital experience. This also allows family and friends to be and fell a part of the team experience. Our Pet Therapy allows patients to receive as visitors those animals that can mean so much to their health and wellbeing. Please contact your nurse or department manager about bringing pets to the hospital.

Spirituality: The Importance of Inner Resources
Planetree 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. Columbia Memorial Hospital’s chapel and gardens provide opportunities for reflection and prayer, and our Chaplain is seen as vital members of our health care team. We encourage the nurturing of an individuals spirituality through whatever means are possible during their hospital stay.

The Importance of Human Touch
Touch is an essential way of communicating caring and is unfortunately often omitted from the clinical setting. Therapeutic full body or chair massage is available for patients, families and staff. 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. Nurses, doctors and other staff find chair massage focusing on the neck, shoulders and back, a useful way to relieve stress and re-energize. Massage therapy is currently available with our Hospice patients.

Healing Arts: Nutrition for the Soul
Music, storytellers, clowns, and movies create an atmosphere of serenity and playfulness in the Planetree Model. Columbia Memorial Hospital has artwork in patient rooms, and treatment areas add to the ambiance. Volunteer involvement from artists, musicians, poets and story tellers from our local community help to expand the boundaries of the health care at Columbia Memorial Hospital.

A Healthy Community
Columbia Memorial Hospital is expanding the boundaries of health care in the Coast River area. Working with schools, senior centers, churches and other community partners, we are redefining health care to include the health and wellness of the larger community.

Columbia Memorial Hospital is a consistent partner in the local community health programs including Clatsop County Tobacco free coalition, North Coast Safe Kids, and North Coast Breast Health Coalition. Columbia Memorial Hospital sponsors through local high schools a Health Occupations program as an opportunity to show interested youth about the many healthcare careers available to them.

For more information about Planetree visit there web site at  http://planetree.org.