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Discover Planetree at Enloe

Enloe Medical Center has begun to implement patient-centered initiatives that address some of the components of Planetree.

Human Interaction

The Planetree approach starts at the organization’s core and builds momentum outward.

“Renewing the Spirit of Enloe” staff training retreats are taking place to provide all Enloe employees with understanding and techniques related to Planetree.  Retreats provide caregivers with the tools for nurturing and healing, building on the strong caring qualities they already demonstrate. Our discussions focus on the patient’s perspective and the vital role staff play in personalizing care. 

Enloe also introduced a nursing model designed to improve interaction, communication and care. RN-directed patient-centered care is practiced on the various nursing units with the goal of enhancing delivery of care and increasing patient satisfaction. Over time, this approach will be rolled out to all nursing units.

Also, Enloe Volunteer Services provides a Patient Ambassadors Program that is designed to reduce the physical, psychological, social and spiritual anxiety of patients and their families. Compassionate volunteers, who receive in-depth training and orientation, visit hospital patients and offer help in a variety of ways. Tasks may include engaging in conversation, visiting, reading, playing cards, offering caring touch and providing access to healing arts. Patient Ambassadors may also support the nursing unit by assisting with administrative tasks.

Quiet Hospital Initiative

A calm, quiet place is ideal for the healing process—and a priority at Enloe. Our first step in managing noise was eliminating routine overhead paging in February 2008. We also dim the lights during certain times of the day to encourage quiet voices. The alternative forms of communication that we implemented after eliminating routine overhead paging support the Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goal to improve communication between caregivers. Additionally, in 2008, we added soothing recorded music to the the main hospital entrance and lobby as well as in the Emergency Department lobby, hallways and nurses station.

Nutritional and Nurturing Aspects of Food

Enloe introduced a new patient menu in 2009 in response to patient preference. This followed another menu refresh in spring 2008, providing a larger variety of selections including more vegetarian options.

Healing Environment

The physical environment is vital to the healing process of patients.

Staff and patients at the Enloe Rehabilitation Center and the Enloe Regional Cancer Center know the comfort of a dog's understanding presence. Specially trained dogs that are a part of our Animal Assisted Therapy Program and our Pets Assisting With Service (P.A.W.S.) Volunteer Program offer patients therapeutic support and emotional comfort.

The Healing Garden at the Enloe Regional Cancer Center provides a place of serenity and reminds patients of the beauty in life. The center was presented with the national Spirit of Planetree Arts & Entertainment Award in 2008 for its healing arts programs.

Enloe will incorporate the Planetree concepts into our new building and existing patient tower creating a healing environment through interior design. Features will include:

  • Local artwork
  • Furniture to accommodate overnight visitors
  • Welcoming family lounges
  • Meditation room offering family members a place to reflect, contemplate and feel a sense of peace.

Art Panels

The art panels on the Enloe Parking Structure are examples of Healing Environments in action. This collection of art, with the theme of healing power of nature, has been on display since April 24, 2009. Several of the panels were purchased, and the rest remains on the Parking Structure for the community to enjoy. Stop by and see the artwork for yourself, or view the artwork and their artists in the slideshow below.

 

Enloe Health Learning Center

The Enloe Health Learning Center, which opened in May 2009, provides patients, family members and community members access to a broad array of health, wellness and medical information. A team of dedicated caregivers and community members from Enloe, the Butte County Library and Chico State Library worked to develop a mission and core selection of resources for the learning center. The Enloe Health Learning Center is located at 1465 Esplanade in Chico. Learn more about this community resource or access our online catalog.

Sustainability Task Force

As part of Planetree’s commitment to community health, Enloe has created a committee that is working to expand the medical center’s recycling and ecologically sustainability practices that are good for people and the environment. 

Healthy Communities

Planetree is also designed to be a catalyst for health and wellness in the larger community. The first Planetree seminar, “State of Grace,” highlighted how art, creativity and intuition can rejuvenate caregivers and patients. We also offer ongoing free educational events for the community and for health professionals. At Right: The Enloe Regional Cancer Center helped Rosedale Elementary School students create Flags of Hope, where children could decorate and write messages on their own flags.

Book in Common

Enloe employees and community members are invited to read a “book in common” each quarter and share discussion over a brown-bag lunch. All Book in Common events are listed on our online community calendar. Lyon Books of Chico generously donates a percentage of the sale of Enloe's Books In Common to Enloe's Planetree fund, benefiting Planetree initiatives at our medical center.

Our first book selection for the Planetree Book in Common was “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose” by Eckhart Tolle. Others have included "The Soloist" by Steve Lopez; “Healing Conversations: What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say” by Nance Guilmartin; "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser; and "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson.

Enloe's Spirit of Planetree Awards

Enloe’s annual Spirit of Planetree Awards recognize a caregiver, program and physician who embody the Planetree philosophy and achieve extraordinary results in patient-centered care. Following are recipients for the 2010 Spirit of Planetree Awards.

Caregiver Award:
Christopher Aicega, Paramedic

When responding to emergency medical situations via Enloe Ambulance, Paramedic Chris Aicega has an ability to maintain emotional stability in some of the most hectic of environments, while also easing his patients’ fears. With caring and compassion, Chris connects with community members from a range of backgrounds and establishes a level of trust. In one example, Chris responded to a call at a homeless shelter regarding a man who was believed to have overdosed on alcohol. Chris treated the individual with respect and personal compassion, offering to call his sponsor. The man was originally upset that 911 had been called, but due to Chris’ ability to treat him as a valued individual, he accepted our help. Through Chris’ unique mix of talents, abilities and passion for helping others, Chris is able to provide a greater overall patient experience for our community.

Program Award: FlightCare

Since 1985, FlightCare has been a vital part of Enloe Medical Center’s comprehensive emergency operations. Flight Care is the only hospital-owned and -operated medical helicopter program in California. It responds to emergencies within a 75-mile radius of Enloe and has transported more than 13,000 patients. In a flight environment, surrounded by the equipment required to monitor and treat the most critically ill patient, the crew uses the basics of a comforting touch and a few words to convey empathy and compassion. The Flight Care crew continually works to improve the program through involvement in safety and quality measures, continuing education, and community outreach and education. The Flight Care team is made up of flight nurses, flight paramedics, pilots, a mechanic and a physician medical director. They are true heroes throughout the north state.

Physician Champion Award:
Marcia Moore, MD

Cardiologist Dr. Moore gives her time and energy in support of Enloe Medical Center and Chico. Dr. Moore has been instrumental in promoting heart health in the community. She brought automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to various locations, initiated and supported public cardiac health screenings and wellness for our physicians and has led public talks in Enloe’s Health & Wellness Evening Lecture Series. Dr. Moore works diligently and passionately with Enloe’s nursing and quality departments each month to assist the hospital in meeting core measures for acute myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. Her direction has led to continued improvement in these publicly reported measures. Dr. Moore is dedicated, compassionate, committed and caring. She is patient-centered at every step of the health care process.

Arts and Entertainment

As a Planetree affiliate, Enloe recognizes and honors the powerful role of the arts in our lives. Music, artwork, crafts, therapeutic movement, and writing offer engagement and enjoyment to enhance the clinical and healing environment. Since 2008, Enloe's Music for Healing Program has made it its mission to serve the medical center through volunteer musicians who provide live music. The program aims to enhance patients’ healing process by creating a pleasing and relaxing environment for patients, visitors and staff. These musicians have the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life by doing what they love.

Musical partnerships

In addition, through partnerships with California State University, Chico, and Chico Performances, Enloe develops and support music as a healing art at the medical center and in the community. Enloe has also collaborated with the university’s Music Department to create a "Music for Healing and Wellness" independent study course for senior music majors since Fall 2008. Above: Harpist Lauren Sharkey and flautist MaryAlice Kolko perform at the Enloe Regional Cancer Center Atrium through Chico State's music for healing course.

Enloe co-sponsored Chico Performances' Joe Craven with Laura Love & Orville Johnson musical event at Laxson Auditorium in 2009 and a lecture by Naomi Judd in 2010. Enloe also helped to bring performances by Soweto Gospel Choir and the Bluestones to Chico and Enloe. At Right: During their 2008 visit, Grammy award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir spent an hour delighting the medical center's four floors singing for patients, visitors, employees and physicians.

The Enloe Regional Cancer Center received the national Spirit of Planetree Arts & Entertainment Award in 2008. The Spirit of Planetree Awards were created to publicly recognize those who personalize, humanize and demystify the health care experience for others and support extraordinary achievement in patient-centered care. Among the Cancer Center's projects are the Healing Art Gallery, shown at right; live music; VIVA!, a support program for kids living with loved ones with cancer; Telling Our Stories, writing for anyone touched by cancer; Faces of Hope, a photo gallery; and the Enloe Cranes Project, an origami folding and cancer awareness program.

How do I become involved?

If you are interested in learning more about Planetree, wish to become involved or to have a Planetree presentation at your organization, contact Traci Hunt, RN, Planetree Coordinator, at (530) 332-5541 or Traci.Hunt@enloe.org.

The Enloe Medical Center Planetree Fund

Donations to this fund will support Enloe’s Planetree programs and services designed to provide patient-centered care in a healing environment.  To make a donation or learn more, contact the Enloe Foundation at 332-4550 or foundation@enloe.org.