Financial Implications of Patient and Family-Centered Care Initiative

In today’s bad economic times, calls to reduce healthcare costs have been very loud. Indeed, the cost of healthcare has been rising constantly and all stakeholders are becoming concerned about people’s capability to meet these healthcare costs (especially among the lower-middle-income and low-income groups) (Landgrave, 2004).

As such, there has been an increased focus on adopting more pocket-friendly healthcare models. Among such initiatives are the patient and family-centered care initiatives. This initiative has also received tremendous support because of its ability to improve healthcare quality (Magee Women’s Hospital, 2011). However, among the greatest concerns for its adoption is its cost of introduction and implementation.

Based on the financial implications of adopting the patient and family-centered healthcare model for Magee Women’s hospital in the USA, this paper points out that the incremental costs for adopting patient and family-centered care are rather dismal (compared to the benefits associated with it) (Magee Women’s Hospital, 2011, p. 4).

Nonetheless, among the main processes that require immediate financial considerations when implementing the healthcare model is training healthcare personnel to learn new elements of healthcare as explained in the patient and family-centered model. More importantly, all other auxiliary programs that are expected to support such a process also require adequate funding. Depending on the requirements of an organization, among the most notable projects that require significant financial allotment is the construction or development of an innovations center (Magee Women’s Hospital, 2011).

This center is expected to provide different auxiliary programs that are aimed at improving training and education programs to support the proper implementation of patient and family-centered care initiatives. Another important function that will be supported through the construction of an innovations center is the provision of a resource center to caregivers, both within and outside the institution.

Apart from the construction or development of the innovations center, a significant amount of financial resources is expected to be allocated to the development of a care team (Magee Women’s Hospital, 2011). The care team is expected to be comprised of different professions in the healthcare sector. When Magee women’s hospital introduced their patient and family-centered healthcare model, they had to recruit physicians, nurses and therapists (Magee Women’s Hospital, 2011, p. 4).

The introduction and maintenance of such a team require adequate money which may be spent through recruitment processes, the provision of allowances, payment of overtime expenses (and other expenses that may be incurred to maintain such a team). Recruitment and maintenance of such a team is often subject to the commitment of the team members in realizing the true goals of the team.