Importance of Patient-Centered Care in Rehab Hospitals & SNFs

TLDR:

Patient-centered care in rehab hospitals is essential as it empowers patients, improves outcomes, as well as enhances the overall rehabilitation experience. By focusing on the specific needs and preferences of patients, occupational and physical therapists foster active participation in treatment plans, which leads to better engagement and more meaningful recovery.

Patient-centered care sets out to make the patient an active participant in their care journey, as opposed to a recipient of impersonal care delivered by an overburdened healthcare system. Instead of treating conditions in isolation, patient-centered care coordinates highly personalized and integrated rehab treatments.

This healthcare model underscores the importance of a patient’s needs, values, preferences, and goals. It emphasizes collaboration that involves the participation of patients, families, and providers working in unison in decision-making. Important elements include clear communication, respect, emotional support, and comprehensive care that incorporates both the physical and mental well-being of the patient.

This healthcare approach is designed to empower patients, improve clinical outcomes, and bring about a more compassionate and effective rehab experience. With patient-centered care, patients develop relationships and establish a profound trust with their therapists. This trust is particularly helpful for patients contending with multiple chronic conditions.

Key Features of Patient-Centered Care

There are various aspects involved in effectively delivering customized care to rehab patients. Therapists will be mindful of including specific elements of patient-centered care in their treatment plans.

Clear Communication
It is important to have open and transparent communication that is easy for the patient to understand, so they feel comfortable with the rehab treatment they are receiving. The goal with transparent communication is to enable informed decision-making.

Comprehensive Care
In order for patient-centered care to be successful, therapists must address the whole patient while catering to their physical health and mental well-being. This ensures a balanced and holistic approach to the patient’s rehab treatment. Innovative tools like a standing frame with sit-to-stand lift can support this effort by facilitating safer, more empowering transitions for patients, reducing the physical strain on both patients and therapists.

Respect
In patient-focused care, patients must be treated with dignity and respect. This means honoring their values, preferences, and personal needs during the entire rehab process.

Inclusion of Family and Friends
It is always helpful for both occupational and physical therapists to recognize the role of loved ones and family in advocating for the patient’s well-being. They need to be included in the rehab process as appropriate.

Emotional Support
It is beneficial during the rehabilitation process for therapists to provide psychological care and empathy in order to reduce anxiety, stress, and emotional difficulties that could arise.

Principles of Patient-Centered Care

The British research firm Picker Institute established eight principles of patient-centered care that provide a foundation for healthcare providers. These fundamentals outline important facets of care delivery that underscore the personal preferences, needs, and values of patients. They also foster an empathetic, respectful, collaborative approach to healthcare in general and for rehab treatments in particular.

Clear Information, Education, and Support: This is where it is important to lay the foundation for patients to proactively participate in the rehab process. Therapists are responsible for delivering transparent communication regarding the patient’s recovery regimen, medical updates, and their overall health.
Targeting Physical Comfort and Environmental Needs: It is vital to offer patients a safe and comfortable environment. Ensure that the patient is comfortable and address any discomfort they may be experiencing.
Continuity of Care and Smooth Transitions: In order for a successful rehab treatment plan to be executed, it is necessary to ensure seamless transitions between care providers and settings. Be sure that a patient is confident and can care for themselves after being discharged from a rehabilitation hospital.
Including Participation of Family and Friends: It is imperative to involve a patient’s loved ones in all aspects of rehabilitative care.
Coordination and Integration of Care: It is incumbent upon healthcare providers to prevent disjointed, disruptive care delivery. That is why it is important to foster thorough communication across the patient’s care continuum. Be sure that all aspects of a patient’s health care are taken into account.
Respect for a Patient’s Personal Needs and Preferences: Think of a patient as a partner with a therapist in their rehab treatment plan. Healthcare providers need to establish reciprocal partnerships with patients that represent their unique values.
Providing Emotional Support: It is helpful to recognize and attend to the emotional impact that medical conditions and physical injuries have on patients. Patients deserve to receive empathy, sensitivity, and reassurance.
Immediate and Dependable Access to Care: Give patients access to the right services at the right time. Ensure the availability of appointments, specialists, and ambulatory care. Make strides to decrease wait times for referrals, treatments, and scheduling.

Benefits of Patient-Centered Care

When rehabilitative care is patient-focused, it brings about numerous advantages for both therapist and patient. A patient-centered treatment regimen enables the patient to feel in control and empowered in ways that foster a quicker and more effective recovery. It is significantly easier for a healthcare provider to conduct rehab exercises with a willing and agreeable patient.

Here are some of the other benefits of patient-centered care.

Enhanced Patient Satisfaction – When rehab treatments focus on the unique needs and desires of the patient, they will feel much more positive about their experience. This translates into improved cooperation and attitude from the patient, making the therapist’s job easier.
Superior Clinical Outcomes – Customized treatment regimes combined with active patient involvement bring about successful and sustainable recovery.
Decreased Healthcare Costs – By emphasizing prevention and early intervention in rehab treatment, patient-focused care can serve to reduce the need for unnecessary procedures and readmissions.
Increased Patient Independence – Patients are empowered to take a proactive role in their rehab treatment. This leads to self-management and improved quality of life upon discharge.

Patient-Centered Care Can Boost Bottom Line

When healthcare providers are more intentional about treating their patients with personalized care, it creates loyalty. Patients who believe their interests and values are being taken into consideration during their rehab treatments will be more devoted to their caregivers. In addition to being more cooperative and having a more upbeat attitude, patients who are encouraged and supported will be more loyal to therapists and the rehab hospital in the future.

Building patient loyalty is vital for ensuring consistent and reliable revenue for medical facilities. Loyal patients are much more likely to decide to go back to the same hospital for ongoing care. This loyalty will probably extend to increased utilization of hospital services, and that includes additional treatments and follow-up appointments.

Hospitals and long-term care facilities that provide superior care are patient-focused and offer a positive experience. This fosters a sense of trust and satisfaction and helps to ensure patient retention. High patient-retention rates can lead to a significant increase in hospital profitability.

Patient-Centered Care is Good Medicine for the Provider and the Patient

Patient-centered care in rehabilitation emphasizes actively involving patients in their own rehabilitative process. The patient’s personal preferences and unique values are taken into account in this custom delivery system of rehab treatments. Through engagement and empowerment, patients are active participants in decision-making and goal-setting, as they take ownership of their health and well-being.

This patient-focused care typically leads to superior clinical outcomes. Patients are much more likely to experience a more efficient and effective recovery when the care they receive is tailored to their particular needs.

As a result, therapists work with patients who are more cooperative and have a more positive attitude toward their rehab regimen. This makes the job of the occupational or physical therapist much easier. Healthcare providers can do their jobs at a higher level when their patients feel better about themselves and their potential for recovery.