In the last hundred years, many different models of care have been developed to improve medical techniques and outcomes. However, patients have sometimes felt left behind as physicians focus on their condition, rather than them as people. Dealing with several healthcare professionals can also make a care package feel fragmented and confusing. Partnership-centered care is different because it focuses on the whole person. Furthermore, health professionals make decisions together with the patient in an open and informed way.
No two days are the same for a nurse and learning several approaches to patient care is part of any nursing program. It is an exciting job with excellent career prospects and there are many ways to get involved. People who have a degree, even one in an unrelated field, can enroll in the University of Indianapolis ABSN program. Delivered over 15 months, it offers students high levels of support with their coursework and prepares them for jobs in a busy medical environment.
Is partnership-centered care related to any other model of care?
Yes, it shares many features with the trifocal model which focuses on establishing a positive environment and encouraging patients to be proactive in their care. However, the partnership-centered approach expands on this idea to include every service and partner involved in the person’s care. It nurtures collaborations between professional individuals and providers, strives to maintain a positive environment and stresses the importance of evidence-based practice. Together, these factors enhance patients’ outcomes and underline the interdependence of everyone involved in the care process.
The environment is caring
Creating a welcoming environment begins with an easy appointment booking process, comfortable furniture in the facility and hospitable staff. People should be addressed using their preferred pronouns and signs should be in local dialects as well as English.
The family are engaged in a patient’s care
Asking for input from the family of a patient can have a positive impact of their quality of care. By getting them on board for decisions, nurses are opening the field for questions and conversations. Nurses can use their medical training to identify any concerns that may have not been mentioned previously and could affect the patient’s care.
Patients feel confident and informed
While medical professionals can educate a patient, listening to their point of view and respecting their wishes is also part of partnership-centered care. This gives patients a chance to research their condition online and ask questions of their physician based on their findings. They may want to discuss alternative treatment options or seek a second opinion.
Collegiality is encouraged
Nurses and physicians should be able to rely on their professional colleagues for support, but also feel confident voicing an opinion. This practice involves building trust between medical professionals at different levels of seniority and ensuring everyone feels a sense of responsibility for patient care. In a collegial facility, everyone is asked to feel part of the care process and to work together for the benefit of patients.
