Page 5 - Kadlec Regional Medical Center | 2012 Community Report

The Planetree Advantage:
A Superior Experience
When Kadlec became affiliated with Planetree in 2004, the Medical Center immediately
strengthened its commitment to patient-centered care. “It’s a philosophy that touches
every aspect of treatment and every business decision we make,” says Kirk Harper, RN,
Kadlec vice president of nursing.
Planetree is a non-profit organization known for pioneering methods for personalizing,
humanizing and demystifying the healthcare experience. The more than 50 criteria a
hospital must satisfy to achieve Planetree designation reflect what patients, family members
and healthcare professionals in hundreds of focus groups have said matters most to them.
“We embrace all beliefs of the Planetree philosophy,” Harper explains. “One of the most
important: we believe that safe, accessible high-qualtiy care is fundamental.”
Planetree criteria include patient–provider interactions, access to information, family
involvement, the physical environment, food and nutrition, spirituality, arts and
entertainment, and integrative therapies. There is also a focus on how the hospital
supports its staff, how patients and families have a voice in the way care is delivered,
and the ways a hospital can reach beyond its walls to care for the community.
“We believe that we are
human beings caring for
other human beings.”