Sometimes, in order to grasp a new concept, you have to put it in terms that are personal and relatable. For example, when I was in college, two semesters of a world history class were mandatory. I heard about a professor who had a really unique style of teaching. Professor Dober’s shtick was to write on the blackboard backwards. So if you wanted to be able to take notes and understand the material, you had to learn how to read his cursive writing backwards. His style was catchy and memorable, and his classes were packed.
As a trainer, I’ve found myself using some pretty crazy analogies to help my clients grasp a topic that is new or unfamiliar to them. If I can destress the learning situation and phrase something in a really silly or unpredictable way, an “a-ha” moment will shortly ensue. That’s a win-win situation for everyone.
I was recently in a learning situation with a group of colleagues discussing current focuses in our ever changing world of Long Term-Post Acute Care (LTPAC). We were discussing Patient Centered Care. The facilitator of our discussion group asked each of us to make a list of our normal morning routine tasks, and then mark the items as “negotiable” or “non-negotiable”. Meaning, would it be ok if I didn’t watch the news or have a cup of coffee before starting work? Do I get up at a certain time each day, and how late do I stay up at night? The responses from my colleagues were very personal, and we laughed at each other’s ”non-negotiables”, but the truth of the matter was that the facilitator had just gotten us to grasp the concept of Patient Centered Care in a very personal and relatable way.
For decades, nursing home residents went to bed at the pre-ordained hour (as determined by the staff for their convenience), and were rousted out of bed at the same pre-ordained time each morning and subject to daily routines that were more about work flow for the nursing assistants and staff convenience than they ever were about what was in the best interest of the resident. And it took decades for industry professionals to finally realize that maybe we should ask the resident their preferences or what their normal daily routine was at home, and allow them to follow the same routine in the nursing home when reasonable and possible.
Gasp!! What have we done? We’ve turned the focus on who really matters. Residents are not a commodity. They are not a diagnosis – Mrs. Smith is not the “hip fracture in room 301”. Each resident comes equipped with a complete set of life stories, preferences and experiences that makes them unique. So doesn’t it just make sense that we develop a plan of care that is designed for each beautiful, unique individual? It’s time to throw out the cookie-cutters in patient care and take a new path.
(Note to my future caregivers: I like a tall French vanilla latte in the morning. I must watch the news before I get up and dressed. Make sure that my iPod is loaded with tons of classic rock from the 1970s (throw in some Rachmaninoff for good measure). Please make sure my hair is freshly colored. And don’t forget my nail appointment every other Saturday at 10!)
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