Putting patient-focused care into practice.

Patient-focused care relies on a framework supported by staff member empowerment and cross training, decentralization, patient care teams, and computerization. Decisions are made based on what is best for the patient rather than what is best for the staff members. How patient-focused care is applied is influenced by the basic structure, beliefs, and values of the institution. Empowering staff members and physicians and creating specialty cluster teams were our first steps toward a patient-focused care model. Cross training ancillary personnel to perform all tasks reduced nursing staff members' overtime and allowed for quicker response times during emergencies. Switching to a computerized documentation system enhanced departmental efficiency, removed much of the paperwork burden from nurses, and reduced costs. Patient-focused care is measurable. We have reduced operating expenses, reduced staff turnover, increased productivity, and increased patient and physician satisfaction.