As the premiere healthcare conference in the field of person-centered care, Planetree International gathers professionals from around the world to share ideas, experiences and best practices. Our Healthcare Architecture Project Manager Steven Garcia and Interior Designer Jessica Choi attended the Spring 2022 Planetree International Conference in Anaheim, Cali., this May.

Together with hundreds of fellow attendees, Steven and Jessica learned more about Planetree’s mission to make healthcare more accessible for everyone involved – patients, staff members, caregivers, family and visitors. Here are the top 5 healthcare trends from this Spring’s conference plus what they mean for healthcare organizations and designers.

Planetree International emphasizes a shift in thinking from “patient-centered care” to “person-centered care.”

TOP TOPIC TRENDS

1. Healthcare during & post COVID-19 – Healthcare operations have navigated significant changes to adopt to COVID-19. As a result, healthcare organizations face numerous challenges including:
   1. employee burnout and turnover,
   2. the effects of PTSD,
   3. a lack of public trust for healthcare professionals,
   4. an increased demand for telehealth, and
   5. inequalities in patient access to healthcare.
2. Taking care of & supporting staff – Planetree International emphasizes a shift in thinking from “patient-centered care” to “person-centered care.” This adjustment acknowledges all people who interact with a healthcare environment, including staff members. As such, presenters encouraged healthcare organizations to support their staff’s well-being by:
   1. celebrating team members and their wins,
   2. discussing employee retention and burnout, and
   3. providing plentiful respite spaces open 24 hours to staff.
3. Demographic inequalities – Health inequalities and social deterrents can prevent people from getting proper healthcare. On a community level, we recognize health disparities affected by geography, such as lack of access to healthy food and “health-conscious” spaces like parks and clinics. Moreover, individual barriers to proper healthcare can include:
   1. access to health insurance,
   2. proximity to healthcare facilities,
   3. transportation needs,
   4. workplace conditions,
   5. chronic illness,
   6. healthcare costs, and
   7. language barriers.
4. Digital transformation – Advancing technology can help healthcare organizations gather feedback, connect with patients and improve their services. Here are a few ways to use digital tools to support person-centered care.
   1. Remember your website is a powerful marketing and information-gathering tool. Many people look at clinic and provider reviews before choosing where to go.
   2. Consider distributing patient questionnaires and preventative care reminders through text and email.
   3. Leverage apps to make the care process easier for patients.
5. Moving toward hospitality design – Healthcare design is trending away from the clinical feel of a hospital and more toward hospitality. Markedly, thoughtful design choices can do more than support patients’ health and well-being. They also reinforce a healthcare organization’s brand, influence feedback scores and promote employee retention. Even quick or inexpensive updates can have meaningful impact on patients, staff and families.

With support from industry insights, Little continues to provide holistic healthcare experiences that elevate patient care, support a thriving healthcare workforce and improve the well-being of our communities. Through our interdisciplinary design approach, what we gain from sharing ideas and experiences with other healthcare design professionals, we reinvest in every project – like Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute. The Levine Cancer Institute is the only cancer network in the nation awarded Planetree International’s top distinction, the Gold Certification for Excellence in Person-Centered Care.

When Atrium Health decided to expand its cancer center, Little worked closely with their staff members. This collaboration ensured the facility’s design enhanced their workflow, improved care coordination and elevated patient experiences. Closely aligned with the healthcare trends outlined above, the Levine Cancer Institute demonstrates a commitment to person-centered care throughout its multi-site facility.

The Levine Cancer Institute is the only cancer network in the nation awarded Planetree International’s top distinction, the Gold Certification for Excellence in Person-Centered Care.