Incorporation of the Tidal Model into the interdisciplinary plan of care--a program quality improvement project

The Tidal Model was utilized in the development and implementation of an Interdisciplinary Care Plan (IPC) on an inpatient psychiatric unit at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Canada. Recovery, client-centered care and interdisciplinary team function were important concepts that were also integrated in the creation of a new care plan. The Tidal Model honors the person and the person's story. This model focuses on engaging the person rather than an illness, with the goal of understanding the person's present situation and his or her relationship with health and illness. Recovery focuses on moving beyond illness, and client centred care acknowledges clients as participants in their own care. As a program quality improvement initiative, the impact of the new IPC was evaluated. Feedback demonstrated that the IPC had a positive impact on both client and caregiver satisfaction, provided a better understanding of the client's situation, and improved the team's ability to document a care plan that reflected the client's specific goals and the goals of the interdisciplinary team. The outcomes achieved through this project have provided support for the IPC along with the need for further evaluation. Our experience with the Tidal Model and the IPC has given voice to the patient's story and helped facilitate their journey towards recovery.