Planetree
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About Planetree
Midwest Medical Center and its Senior Care Community are committed to the Planetree way of healthcare delivery. We continue to develop programs to benefit those we serve, including our patients, their families and our employees and medical team.
Every Planetree Hospital Consists of These Core Components:
Human Interactions
Planetree is about human beings caring for and serving other human beings. This involves not only the provision of nurturing, compassionate, personalized care to patients and families, but just as important, how staff cares for themselves and each other; and, how organizations create cultures that support and nurture their staffs.
Architectural & Interior Design Conducive to Health & Healing
Planetree firmly believes that the physical environment is vital to the healing process of the patient. Facility design should include efficient layouts that support patient dignity and personhood. Domestic aesthetics, art and warm home-like, non-institutional designs that value humans, not just technology, are emphasized. Architectural barriers that inhibit patient control and privacy, as well as interfere with family participation are removed. Awareness of the symbolic messages communicated by design is essential.
The Importance of the Nutritional and Nurturing Aspects of Food
Nutrition is recognized as an integral part of health and healing essential not only for good health, but as a source of pleasure, comfort and familiarity. With all the scientific data demonstrating the role of nutrition in health and disease, health care facilities have a responsibility to be role models for delicious, healthy eating.
Empowering Patients through Information and Education
Planetree recognizes that the experience of illness has the potential to transform the patient. It can be a time of great personal growth for the patient as life goals and values are reevaluated, priorities are clarified, and inner resources are discovered. A variety of educational materials and programs are made available to the patient, the family and the community.
The Importance of Family, Friends, and Social Support
Planetree supports and encourages involvement of family and significant others whenever possible. As part of the health care team, significant others can make a valuable contribution to the quality of the patient’s hospital experience. Volunteer care partners are available for those patients who are alone.
Spirituality: The Importance of Inner Resources
Planetree recognizes the vital role of spirituality in healing the whole person. Supporting patients, families and staff in connecting with their own inner resources creates a more healing environment. Chapels, gardens and meditation rooms provide opportunities for reflection and prayer, and Chaplains are seen as vital members of the healthcare team.
The Importance of Human Touch
Touch is an essential way of communicating caring and is unfortunately often omitted from the clinical setting. Planetree encourages therapeutic full body or chair massage be made available for patients, families and staff.
Healing Arts: Nutrition for the Soul
Music, storytellers, clowns, and funny movies create an atmosphere of serenity and playfulness in the Planetree Model. Artwork in patient rooms, treatment areas and on art carts add to the ambience. Volunteers work with patients who would like to create their own art, while involvement from artists, musicians, poets and storytellers from the local community help to expand the boundaries of the healthcare facility.
Complementary Therapies
A growing number of patients desire treatment options which are more natural, less toxic, less invasive and holistic, to complement more conventional medical approaches such as aromatherapy, pet therapy, Tai Chi, etc. Planetree strongly encourages and provides resources for its affiliates to adopt complementary therapies.
Healthy Communities
Planetree believes it is essential to expand the boundaries of healthcare. Working with schools, senior centers, churches and other community partners, organizations are redefining health care to include the health and wellness of the larger community.
