Fauquier Hospital Earns Planetree Patient-Centered Care Re-designation

WARRENTON, Va. - Oct. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Fauquier Hospital has been awarded re-designation as a Planetree Designated^® Patient-Centered Hospital. Six years ago, Fauquier Hospital was among the first hospitals worldwide to achieve Planetree Designation, which is awarded for a three-year term.  Today, Fauquier Hospital remains the only hospital in Virginia -- and one of only 25 hospitals worldwide -- to have maintained the Patient-Centered Hospital Designation since the program’s launch in 2007.

The Planetree designation signals to healthcare consumers that Fauquier Hospital is a hospital where providers partner with patients and families, and where patient comfort, dignity, empowerment and well-being are prioritized along with top-quality clinical care. Planetree — an international not-for-profit organization — has been at the forefront of this movement to transform healthcare from the perspective of the patient for 35 years, taking the lead in defining what is meant by “patient-centered care.”

As part of the designation process, Planetree representatives visited Fauquier Hospital in June to speak directly with patients, family members, hospital leadership, staff and physicians. A series of focus groups were held during which participants candidly shared their experiences at Fauquier Hospital.  The site visit team found that patients feel listened to, respected, and well-cared for, and that staff feels informed, empowered and appropriately recognized.

Planetree designation criteria reflect what patients, family members and healthcare professionals say matters most to them during a healthcare experience. More than 60 specific criteria address components of a patient-centered healthcare experience, including patient-provider interactions, access to information, family involvement, the physical environment, food and nutrition, spirituality, arts and entertainment, and integrative therapies.  In addition, the criteria focus on how the hospital is supporting its staff, opportunities for staff, patients and families to have a voice in the way care is delivered, and the ways that the hospital is reaching beyond its walls to care for its community.

Planetree’s site visit team members were impressed with Fauquier Hospital’s patient concierge program, pet therapy program, transition to home initiative, personalized food service and open visiting hours policy -- just a few of the many ways that the Planetree philosophy is being brought to life at Fauquier Hospital. During its visit, the Planetree team heard dozens of stories about how staff members – from doctors and nurses to nutrition and housekeeping staff – go the extra mile to offer patients compassion and kindness, as well as excellent healthcare.

Rodger Baker, president and CEO of Fauquier Health, said, “The Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care defines the culture of Fauquier Hospital. Fourteen years into our Planetree journey, it’s  second-nature to our staff. Compassionate care -- it’s just who we are.”

Planetree’s president, Susan Frampton, said, “Planetree is very pleased to award Fauquier Hospital this designation. This achievement is a true testament to the staff and leadership at this special hospital, each of whom has played a crucial role in integrating the philosophy of patient-centered care into their day-to-day work. The team at Fauquier Hospital is not only making a difference for individual patients and family members, but is also effectively transforming the culture of the organization, and fundamentally altering what this community expects when they come to the hospital.”

About Fauquier Health

Fauquier Health is a Planetree-designated facility, dedicated to high-quality, patient-centered care in a unique environment that considers the multiple facets of healing and respects the individuality of each and every patient. Located at 500 Hospital Drive in Warrenton, Virginia, Fauquier Health serves the residents of Fauquier and several surrounding counties. It comprises: Fauquier Hospital, a fully-accredited, 97-bed hospital; Fauquier Health Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, a 113-bed long-term care and rehabilitation facility; the Villa at Suffield Meadows, an assisted living facility; the Wound Healing Center and a medically supervised Wellness Center offering health and wellness programs.  Fauquier Health also operates ten physician’s offices, including primary care and specialties. In 2012, Fauquier Health provided almost $12 million in community benefit support to its community. More information on Fauquier Health is available online at www.fauquierhealth.org or by calling 540-316-3588.