Person Centered Care - Planetree Gold Certification

Anadolu Medical Center, which provides care based on the philosophy of Person-Centered Care, became the first hospital in Türkiye to receive Planetree Gold Certification for a second time, reaffirming its leadership in this field.

Person-Centered Care

Stating that everyone working at Anadolu Medical Center contributed to this achievement, Person-Centered Care Manager Asuman Kuşçu said:

"Person-Centered Care consists of multidimensional efforts that require a transformation in organizational culture. At its core, it means recognizing individuals not only through their identity as patients, but as people with unique experiences, values, preferences, and expectations, and placing them at the center of healthcare delivery. While this may sound straightforward, it can become complex in healthcare organizations where each patient is regarded as unique and care must be tailored accordingly. Delivering healthcare from a one-sided perspective is no longer sufficient; instead, a true partnership with patients and their families is essential. Guidance on how to establish this partnership is provided by an organization called Planetree."

Founded in the United States in 1978 by a patient who had experienced poor hospital care, Planetree began exploring how healthcare organizations could create more healing environments for patients. As part of this effort, the organization interviewed more than 50,000 patients, family members, and healthcare professionals to better understand their expectations for an improved healthcare experience.

These interviews revealed that people's expectations of healthcare services are generally similar. Expectations such as receiving more effective information about one's health condition, establishing stronger partnerships with patients and their families, creating healthcare environments that promote healing, and giving greater consideration to patients' individual preferences have shaped the standards used today for Person-Centered Care accreditation.

Anadolu Health Center became the first hospital in Türkiye and the surrounding region to receive Planetree Gold Certification for a second time in recognition of its achievements in Person-Centered Care. Surveyors from Planetree, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to Person-Centered Care, conducted focus group interviews with 25 patients and family members, 55 employees, and 11 physicians to better understand what it is truly like to provide and receive care at Anadolu Health Center. In addition, they carried out on-site assessments, observed the healing environment, and held spontaneous conversations with patients and staff members. During the accreditation process, a total of 108 individuals were interviewed.

We Focus on Employees as Much as Patients

Emphasizing that one of Planetree's key areas of focus is employee well-being, Asuman Kuşçu said:

"Just as we seek to understand patients' preferences, expectations, and needs through surveys and projects, we also address the expectations, preferences, and needs of our employees. We gather employees' feedback and expectations on issues that concern them and design future projects by taking these expectations into account."

Person-Centered Care Through the Eyes of Our Patients

"During my radiotherapy session, I suddenly experienced a panic attack and started crying, but three nurses immediately came to my side. The compassion they showed me was incredible. They hugged me and offered me a break. I will always remember that moment. I do not know what the future holds, but right now, the care I have experienced during this treatment means so much to me."

"The staff are friendly, kind, and calm. You naturally feel anxious before scans, but the technicians and nurses are highly professional, reassuring, well trained, and clearly selected with great care. They are genuinely good people who are well suited to working in a healthcare environment."

"Everyone here was so attentive. I believe this place is managed with a truly holistic approach. I am grateful for the treatment I received here, and I always felt comfortable during my stay."

"The staff are so friendly that when you see the smiles on their faces, you know you are in a safe place. That has a very positive impact on your mental well-being."