Patient Centered Care and Education
Patient education is an important aspect of the patient experience
at Stanford Health Care (SHC). SHC strives for a patient centric,
supportive learning environment which engages the patient and promotes
a wellness health model. Teaching strategies include the use of
demonstrations, multi-media presentations, audio and video tools, and
computer technology.
Nurses are primary patient educators and are supported in this role
by the Patient Education Council. This Council was developed to
standardize and enhance patient educational outcomes. The Council is
responsible for establishing a process for the development and
approval of materials to ensure that they meet the needs of patients
and Clinicians.
As a teaching hospital, SHC promotes a culture of learning that
begins with the first patient/staff interaction and extends after the
time the patient is discharged. From specific pre-op classes and
instructions, participation in Clinical trials, enrollment in classes
dedicated to the management of chronic health conditions, to the
one-on-one education a nurse provides a patient during a
hospitalization, SHC is committed to patient education as a tool to
improve patients' outcomes and quality of life.
Using cultural competency constructs throughout patient education
helps the foundation to improve ethnic health disparities and patient
outcomes. SHC has accomplished this by incorporating interpretative
services, coordinating with traditional healers, and integrating
families and community members into patient education efforts, thereby
improving the ability of the healthcare provider to deliver
appropriate services to diverse populations.
Learn more about patient education opportunities at Stanford Health Care.