Implementation of Person-Centered Care: A Feasibility Study Using the WE-CARE Roadmap

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient-Centered Models

Background:

• Person-Centered Care (PCC) is recognized for enhancing healthcare quality and cost-efficiency.
• Previous evaluations of PCC have been conducted in Sweden and England.
• This study focuses on the initial feasibility of PCC implementation in a Polish pediatric rehabilitation setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of implementing the Gothenburg Person-Centered Care (PCC) approach in a Polish pediatric rehabilitation hospital.
• To evaluate the perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients/families regarding PCC implementation.
• To explore the utility of the WE-CARE Roadmap in guiding PCC adoption.

Main Methods:

• The WE-CARE Roadmap guided the implementation of PCC for pediatric scoliosis patients.
• A multidisciplinary team received training in PCC and adapted the hospital's IT system for enhanced data capture.
• Content analysis of semi-structured interviews with 9 healthcare professionals and 3 patients/families was performed.

Main Results:

• 51 patients and families received care through the PCC approach, with high completion rates for new PCC data fields.
• Healthcare professionals successfully implemented core PCC routines and recognized associated benefits.
• Patients and their families reported an improved quality of care, facilitated by the WE-CARE framework.

Conclusions:

• The Gothenburg PCC approach is transferable to a Polish rehabilitation hospital setting.
• The pilot study demonstrated favorable implementation perceptions among both professionals and patients/families.
• PCC implementation shows promise for improving pediatric rehabilitation in Poland.