Importance of Patient-Centered Care It has been a goal of many healthcare providers to achieve patient-centered care in their facilities. At the Cleveland Clinic, they have come up with a program that will help create better communication between the physician, nurse and patient. Rimmerman (2013) said that their hopes are to eliminate misunderstandings, create a better environment for the patient and their families to ask questions and to achieve a plan of care that will fit to the patient’s needs.
Why is a patient-centered program important? At many facilities, patients often spend about 30 minutes or less a day with their physician during their stay. According to Rimmerman (2013), the nurse devotes their time with the patient and their family more than any other staff member. The relationship that nurse develops with the patient is a vital component to the patient’s care. This allows the nurse to create an environment for the patient and their family to ask questions or state any concerns they may have. According to the Rimmerman (2013), “In many respects, they know the patient better by virtue of their time spent and reflect an in valuable source of clinical information with respect to, patient progress, personal needs, skin wounds, IV status, activity level, nutritional status, independent ambulation, emotional concerns and family dynamics. Nursing is in a position of strength by virtue of its continuity of care.” That statement sums up why it is an important key for nurses to build that relationship with patients and their families. This program will allow the nurses and doctors to create that comfortable environment during rounds.
The Plan The patient-centered program structure will begin during rounds. The appropriate doctor will have a list of patients with their assigned nurse and that nurse’s phone extension number. Once a nurse is called by the