31. Jan 2004 18:07 16. Nov 2010 13:03

The Patient’s Perspective

Patients have played an active role in planning the university hospitals design and organization, which are based on the patient’s perspective.

31. Jan 2004 18:07 1. Feb 2004 15:06

• When possible patients will come straight to the place where they are to receive treatment. 
• The services will as a rule be available close to the patient. 
• Patients will have a smaller group of people to relate to - creating a reassuring and comforting atmosphere. 
• Each building is smaller than a traditional hospital. This is very important for patients feelings of closeness and security. It will also be easier for patients to find their way around the new hospital. 
• New organizational approaches, improved planning and extensive use of modern technology will shorten the average hospital stay.

A patient hotel will provide care for patients who do not need full hospital services.

The patient’s perspective is the guiding force behind all the planning and construction of Trondheims new university hospital.

Current and prospective patients are playing an active role in planning both the design of the buildings and the organization of the work.

The main aim of the hospital is:

"To develop the university hospital as an organization of high quality, efficiency and professionalism. This means a hospital based on teamwork in an integrated health service, with medical expertise, nursing and care focused on the patient."

The cornerstone of the project is the patient’s perspective.

We are working for a reality that matches this concept and have devoted considerable effort to explore the implications of this - both in the architectural design as well as the organization of the work.

The university hospital will provide patients with treatment, nursing and care based on the patients own needs and wishes.

Today, many public-health services are organized in terms of functions and disciplines. This is not necessarily the most practical model for effective patient care. We have found it more relevant to adopt on a holistic view of the patient.

This has far-reaching implications. It involves changing the organizational structure so that as many services as possible are provided close to the patient by the staff with who the patient has day-to-day contact.

An important principle is that the patients knowledge of his or her own situation is as valid as the knowledge of the professionals, and should contribute to diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

THE PLANETREE MODEL

Patient-centred care is a key feature of the Planetree model of hospital design.

Services and treatments come to the patient, and are provided as far as possible by the team of staff that the patient is already familiar with, rather than the more traditional system where patients are moved between departments and centralized facilities.

This means that a hospital designed on Planetree lines will have a layout that accommodates decentralized patient care.

To provide all-round care and treatment, meaningful information, and the opportunity to share in decisions, Planetree units strive to remove barriers between health workers and patients along with their families.

Other key concepts include taking care of the individual’s identity, surroundings that promote health, and network support. One of the tools for achieving this is to use primary nursing, which provides good continuity and limits the number of health workers patients come into contact with.

At St. Olav`s Hospital, the Department of Rheumatology was run according to the Planetree model for several years. Patients said they perceived the department as safe, pleasant, friendly, and different from traditional hospital departments