Planetree at Griffin Hospital: a thoughtful patient-centered wellness plan for holistic healing

Plane Tree
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In Europe, Plantanus occidentalis is called a plane tree and in North America it is called a sycamore tree. As trees go, it is very durable and is known for its capability for survival. It is easily transplanted and is tolerant of air pollution, drought and most soils. As it matures, it sheds pieces of its outer bark, which results in an eye-catching and unique mosaic pattern of green, ivory, and golden or light brown colors.[1]

Tradition has it that Hippocrates, the father of medicine, used to teach his students under the shade of the huge plane tree that he planted, which today stands in front of the Castle of Knights, on Kos Island in Greece.[2] It is also said that the Apostle Paul (Paul of Tarsus) taught there, too. The plane tree is also linked to mythical gods and kings and was revered by both. Historians tell us that in 480 B.C. King Xerxes of Persia, while on his was to conquering Greece, stopped his army in a grove of plane trees. He was so captivated by the tree’s beauty that he adorned it with jewelry, assigned it a personal bodyguard and delayed conquering Greece for a few days. He also had a gold medal engraved with the image of the tree, which he wore as an amulet.[3]

As Angelica Thieriot battled a rare viral infection, she sat staring at the cold, blank walls of her hospital room. Nurses hurried in and out without regard to Angelica as an individual, leaving her to spend hours feeling lonely and afraid. She was disheartened to find that this lack of personalized care threatened to overshadow the benefits of the hospital’s high-tech environment. Angelica’s experiences led her to envision a different type of hospital where patients could receive care in a truly healing environment that would also provide them with access to the information needed to become active participants in their own care and wellbeing. In 1978, Angelica founded Planetree, taking the name from the roots of modern Western medicine -- the tree that Hippocrates sat under as he taught some of the earliest medical students in ancient Greece.[4](excerpt from About Planetree, Our Roots http://www.planetree.org/)

Planetree is a non-profit organization, with a mission to provide personalized patient care. Originating in California, the program has expanded by forming an alliance group with several hospitals in many states around the country.[5] Griffin Hospital in Derby, Connecticut, is an affiliate member. It is a Planetree designated hospital that is well known for its focus on patient-centered care as it offers an inviting ambience to all who work and visit there. Upon entering the hospital grounds, you are welcomed with music in the parking lots and as you step into the main entrance you are introduced to a soothing lounge style atmosphere filled with the sounds of piano music.[6] Patrick Charmel, CEO, of Griffin Hospital states “Griffin adopted the Planetree model after conducting extensive consumer research and soliciting hospital staff input on patient expectations. The Planetree model was determined to be responsive to identified consumer demand for personalized humanistic care in an environment that is conducive to healing.”[7] Designed to create a nurturing environment, Griffin implements the Planetree model’s acute-care components in the following ways.[8][9]

Human Interactions:
Patients and their families have the opportunity to be involved with activities on their units, which includes celebrations and special events. To reinforce the value of their role in the hospital, the staff is “treated” to retreats and other activities.

Griffin Hospital employees on retreat.
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Architectural & Interior Design Conducive to Health and Healing:
The hospital and the Center for Cancer Care offer lounges, chapels, meditation areas, gardens, and settings that promote social involvement. The use of soft colors, appropriately directed lighting, and masterful artwork makes a visitor feel right at home. The classic concrete walls of MRI rooms are painted with expert dimensional effects, which provide a sense of warmth.

The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital main lobby.
Photo credit: Griffin Hospital, Derby Connecticut

The Importance of the Nutritional and Nurturing Aspects of Food:
A wide range of food and refreshments to fit individual preferences are available along with kitchen facilities to prepare your own meals. Volunteers are on staff baking savory treats (yummy cookies, muffins, and bread), which emit an enticing scent. This is aromatherapy at its down home best!

Empowering Patients through Information and Education:
Patients are permitted to view their own charts and to be a part of the decision making process in terms of their treatment. This builds a stronger knowledge base and enables the patient to understand the nature of their challenges and to be a part of determining the best approach to dealing with them.

The Importance of Family, Friends, and Social Support:
Unrestricted visiting hours makes a significant difference in the healing process for the patient. Encouraging a strong social network is vital for reassurance and support.

Spirituality: The Importance of Inner Resources:
Streaming water flowing through beautiful outdoor gardens, chapels, meditation areas and other dedicated areas are available for prayer and reflection to nurture the inner being.

(1) Garden, (2) entrance to chapel and meditation room, and (3) skylight located at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital.
Photo credit: Griffin Hospital, Derby, Connecticut

The Importance of Human Touch:
Massage therapists are available to promote the health and well-being of patients, families and staff by using touch therapy to create a harmonious balance between the person and the energy around them.

Healing Arts: Nutrition for the Soul:
Activities oriented toward creativity through arts and crafts, storytelling and music provide the opportunity for patients and their families to express themselves in various ways. Volunteer story writers are on staff to meet with patients and families. This allows the patient to share accounts of their life and history and reflect on what their life means and has meant to others.

Complementary Therapies:
Various therapy programs are in place, which lend to the thoughtful programs designed to heal the inner being. Among them are heart disease reversal programs, yoga, acupuncture and pet therapy.

Canine therapy at Griffin Hospital.
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Healthy Communities:
The hospital performs community outreach to schools, senior centers, and churches, and sponsors walking clubs and community based activities to promote awareness of health and well-being.

News & Events column provides news releases to keep the community posted of special events.

Sounds like quality care but is Planetree cost effective for the patient and the hospital? Does a comprehensive quality patient-centered program such as this result in cost concerns? There is an initial cost to the hospital to join the affiliate group and the Planetree organization provides the framework for the program along with the facilitation to implement the acute-care component parts of it. However, the data from a study that evaluated 869 hospitalized adults who had knee or hip joint replacement surgery provides evidence that the program positively affects patient satisfaction, length of stay, and cost per case. Researchers concluded that the Planetree patient-centered model of care is cost-effective and that it should be considered for those hospitals seeking to improve the inpatient hospital experience.[10]

Thoughtful wellness care programs that are designed to focus on the personal needs of the patient go beyond the diagnosis. Healthcare wellness plans that integrate the best of scientific medicine and complementary healing practices and traditions are focused on the personal, spiritual and emotional needs of the patient. Planetree offers this type of program in that it considers the whole person and not just the medicinal plan of treatment. Griffin Hospital is among the growing number of affiliates who have incorporated this beneficial wellness program into their services. What a difference it can make when we are faced with health challenges and at the same time are given the opportunity to receive thoughtful care and consideration for our deeper personal needs during the experience. The Planetree wellness plan is a philosophy, as well as a program model, as it reaches into the depths of the person and offers an embracing invitation for support and care for their health and well-being. And, like the plane tree’s ability to survive challenging environmental conditions and still maintain its strength, integrity and beauty, so, too, can those who are faced with similar challenges to their health by accepting the invitation for holistic healing through the patient-centered program.

Reference links:
1.   http://www.etsu.edu/arboretum/totw.html
2.   http://www.greeka.com/dodecanese/kos/kos-excursions/kos-hippocrates-plane-tree.htm
3.   http://www.mortonarb.org/history/thornhill-center/ten-windows.html
4.   http://www.planetree.org/
5.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Planetree_Alliance_members
6.   www.griffinhealth.org
7.   http://www.innovativecaremodels.com/care_models/4/leaders
8.   http://www.planetree.org/about.html
9.   http://www.innovativecaremodels.com/care_models/4/key_elements
10.   http://knowledgecenter-iida.org/AssetDetails.aspx?assetGuid=b141e209-ebe4-4d35-8e36-4f51302237aa&BackToPage=search.aspx