Overview
Healthcare Partners (formerly the Voice of the Patient Advisory Council) empower patients and caregivers to take an active role in improving the patient experience at Taussig Cancer Center, through serving on this advisory board. This volunteer program promotes patient and family-centered care and serves as an a resource for Taussig Cancer Center medical professionals, staff and administration.
Patients are at the heart of everything we do at the Taussig Cancer Center. Their voice is critical in the care they receive at our facility. Healthcare Partners is an opportunity for patients, families, and caregivers to collaborate to improve the patient experience at Taussig Cancer Center.
Mission
Healthcare Partners was established at Taussig Cancer Center to ensure that patient and caregiver voices are heard. The focus of this group is to prioritize safety, well-being and overall positive patient experiences. Healthcare Partner members share invaluable first-hand experiences and unique insights into our care processes. Together with key leaders, this team of compassionate individuals help to improve our patient services and programs; and ensure the high quality of care that patients and caregivers deserve at Cleveland Clinic.
Cleveland Clinic has implemented Healthcare Partners enterprise wide. The partners meet regularly to discuss affecting patients and caregivers and how to improve experiences. Healthcare Partners include patients, caregivers and employees
Charter
Guiding Principle: Healthcare Partners
Cleveland Clinic leadership works with our Healthcare Partners(team of patients and the community that cares for them), and Cleveland Clinic caregivers to transform healthcare; and support our vision of Patients First, by and providing relationship-centered care.
Vision: Patients and Caregivers as Partners for Better Patient Experiences
Mission: Improving Healthcare Experiences Through Collaboration
Taussig Cancer Center Healthcare Partners provide compassionate care addressing the emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of all stakeholders. Our goal is to positively transform healthcare together as a community. Through the sharing of patient and caregiver experiences we can make to changes to ensure the best possible patient experiences. Healthcare Partners will follow these guidelines:
- Meetings will be co-led by healthcare partners and Cleveland Clinic leadership.
- We will seek to represent and serve all diverse populations.
- We will transparently share our work and engage in continuous improvement.
- We will improve what exists, dream about what doesn't and commit to change that drives innovation.
- We will work to enhance the lives of those that serve and are served through compassion, hard work and change.
Get Involved
Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center is always in the process of forming its next Healthcare Partners Council. Members participate by providing feedback on a variety of issues and challenges affecting patients and families with the goal of improving the care experience for all patients.
Criteria for becoming a Healthcare Partner member include:
- Sharing insights about patient care constructively
- Interacting well with others
- Patients treated on Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
- Finished with active treatment
- Non-Cleveland Clinic employees
Council Member Commitment:
- Completing a screening application
- Attending volunteer service orientation (including background check, TB test)
- Committing to 2 hour monthly meetings at Taussig Cancer Institute for one year
How You Can Help
Throughout the monthly meetings, Healthcare Partner members bring patient needs and concerns to Cleveland Clinic caregivers, give constructive feedback so that future patients might have even better experiences throughout their cancer treatment.
Healthcare Partners members are nominated by a multidisciplinary advisory council that has recognized an individual as an asset to the mission and projects of Taussig Cancer Institute's Healthcare Partners. For more information, contact the Best Practices Department in the Office of Patient Experience at 216.444.7500 or 800.223.2273 ext. 47500.
Accomplishments
Projects
This advisory resource empowers patients and families to take an active role in improving the patient experience at Cleveland Clinic and provides real-time feedback and creative solutions to specific challenges.
Our Healthcare Partners have reviewed several hospital policies, including patient visitation and discharge information, helped define the expected service behaviors of all employees, renovated family areas, and developed educational materials for different nursing units.
Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center's Healthcare Partners have had an influence in many decisions made throughout the Institute and future plans for cancer care at Cleveland Clinic.
Recent Healthcare Partners Accomplishments
New Building Plans
The Taussig Cancer Institute Healthcare Partners provided input and feedback throughout the planning for the new Taussig Cancer Center on Cleveland Clinic Main Campus including the following:
- New building letter designation (CA)
- Decided on new end of treatment celebrations for current patients
- Provided feedback to Joseph Beth Bookstore on inventory and merchandise available in the new building
- Made revisions to the My Journey Binder delivered to new patients receiving treatment
2016
- Provided feedback on the letter designation for the new building, retail space and contents, treatment milestone celebrations and patients education at the new Taussig Cancer Center.
- Overviewed versus technology to improve patient understanding and compliance with locating systems.
- Identified additional community outreach opportunities in local communities and increase patients awareness/involvement in outreach events.
- Provided feedback on the importance of financial costs associated with treatment being share with patients.
2014-2015
- Completed food service information request to provide input on cafeteria options and location.
- Groups discussions related to referral experiences, the ease of scheduling, way finding flow, checking in, patient wait time and scheduling follow up appointments.
- Provided feedback on their experiences from the time of diagnosis to start of treatment in terms of communication, support and access to resources.
- Identifying potential opportunities for Cancer Center Community Outreach programs
- Tested and gave feedback on new chemotherapy infusion chairs for the cancer center.
- Reviewed the My Journey Binder to help new patients with treatment education and information about the cancer center.
