By Kristen Schoolcraft Campos, PMHNP, MSN, MSW
Today I met a colleague at her workplace for lunch. I am no stranger to inpatient behavioral health hospitals, but I must admit I have not spent much time in the waiting area. As I waited the parents of a young man who was in the inpatient unit arrived. The kindly stated their son was hospitalized voluntarily, he wants to come home, they have not heard from a provider, and they are here to pick him up. The receptionist phones the unit and then relays the message nursing has not yet received discharge instruction for any patients. They wait. The father so deliberately chose his words I could tell he was unhappy. The mother’s face was expressionless, but her eyes looked tired.
We Waited
As I waited no one came out to greet the family, educate them on the discharge process, update them on what was going on, take them to visit their son while they wait, assure them he is safe, or even offer them a water. I couldn't help but think of what I would be feeling as a parent, spouse, family member, or friend. Maybe the patient was not communicating the plan with his family, but maybe this young man also felt left in the dark. How would I like being locked inside of a place for an unknown amount of time, no answers to my questions, feeling helpless, when I am already in my most vulnerable state.
Meet the Needs They are Identifying
In this moment the mental health providers were failing this patient. I thought about how this situation could be prevented. The answer was simple: person-centered care. Person-centered care has gained popularity and should be taught at every university these days. The mental health professionals probably even support person-centered care, but unfortunately their actions did not mirror those ideals. Person-centered care must stretch beyond building a treatment plan with patients. Beyond gaining consensus on medications and types of therapy. Providers must view patients holistically. This person has a worried family. A family who he probably lives with and is his strongest support system. To this patient knowing when he will go home, the discharge process, and helping him explain this process to his family is most important. To this patient, medications and scheduling follow-up appointments can wait. Taking a person-centered approach is providing comfort to this patient and family through a simple conversation. Meet the needs they are identifying.
Person-centered Care vs. Patient-centered Care
Sometimes providers can use a reminder that the smallest things can mean the most. A reminder to take a PERSON-centered approach vs a patient-centered approach. Simply put, remember patients are people with much more to them than the treatment for one disorder. Some of the most meaningful interactions are not directly about the treatment. As a person seeking treatment, please remember YOU matter more than the treatment plan. You are more than a diagnosis. If your provider doesn’t reinforce this then they are failing you.
Reference
Boardman, J. & Dave, S. (2020). Person-centred care and psychiatry: some key perspectives. BJPsych International,17(3), 65-68. doi: 10.1192/bji.2020.21.
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