- Why does a patient choose one hospital over another?
- What special touches make a notable difference in the overall
patient experience?
- How do you achieve the kind of care that leaves a family
saying "Wow!"?
This article originally appeared in Health Matters, a health
information newsletter published by Clinton Hospital for members of the Greater
Clinton community.
To help answer these questions, Clinton Hospital
recruited nine dedicated community members from Clinton, Lancaster and Sterling
to take part in its newly formed Patient Family Advisory Council. Led by
cochairs Ann Quill, former Clintonian turned long-time Sterling resident, and
Charlene Elie, RN, MS, vice president of patient care at Clinton Hospital, the
council's mission is to create a better patient experience by sharing and
learning from the accounts of our patients and their families.
"Clinton Hospital's Patient Family Advisory Council has exceeded all of our
expectations," said Ms. Elie. "As we continue to build upon our culture of
patient-centered care, we were very fortunate to enlist an extremely energetic
team that is adept at helping us see the hospital from a patient's point of
view."
Since its March 2010 inception, the group has proved itself invaluable,
tackling one project after another. Under the advisement of the Patient Family
Advisory Council, Clinton Hospital expanded its patient television programming
from 10 to 34 channels and installed flat-screen televisions in a number of
inpatient rooms - two small changes that are making a world of difference to
patients and visitors. More recently, the hospital adopted the council's
suggestions that aim to alleviate questions and increase patient and visitor
awareness regarding hospital services and policies. And for the past few months,
the council has been gearing up to address the need for a new Patient and Family
Lounge and family-accessible kitchen on the hospital's second floor inpatient
unit.
"As visitors to the hospital, we realized that the hospital lacks a
comfortable area for family members and visitors to confer with care providers,
attend to personal responsibilities, and socialize with patients and other
visitors," noted Ms. Quill. "We have developed a plan to build a new lounge that
we hope will help visitors escape for a bit, while still remaining close
by."
To facilitate this project and others like it, the Patient Family Advisory
Council is teaming up with the Clinton Hospital Foundation to generate financial
support for the project through this year's annual appeal. By donating to the
annual appeal, you can help Clinton Hospital build a better patient
experience.
To make a donation to the annual appeal, visit us online at Clinton Hospital
Foundation, or call us at 978-368-3893. Your support is truly
appreciated.