The 2020 Patient Engagement Calendar Topic of the Month for March is “My Plan: My Wishes” creating a great opportunity to focus on one of the CMS Big Three Patient Engagement Goals- Increasing patient participation in the plan of care (POC). We know that when patients and their families are engaged in the development of their plan of care it can make a positive impact on their treatment outcomes and quality of life.
Upon review of the facility self-reported data provided thus far, the majority of POC being conducted by facilities (46
percent
) are completed by reviewing their POC with patients after the meeting is held; 44
percent
are conducting the Plan of Care Meetings on the treatm
ent floor and only 10
percent
were conducted “off the treatment floor” or virtually.
Reviewing the POC after a meeting does not provide the same level of engagement in the process as being directly involved. Patient Subject Matter experts have shared that Having POC meet
ings off the treatment floor (virtually or by phone) offers privacy that can help create an environment where the patients and family members feel more comfortable asking questions and sharing their goals.
