Inside Duke Medicine

Core value is at the heart of DUHS

The DUHS Core Value: Caring for our patients, their loved ones, and each other

The core value of “Caring for our patients, their loved ones and each other” is intended to unite everyone within the health system together behind this single, central and unifying vision.

“Patients have a choice about where to receive their care and when they choose Duke they expect the very best,” said Kevin Sowers, RN, MSN, FAAN, president of Duke University Hospital. “This patient expectation drives our total effort around values. We must live these values and strive for excellence on a daily basis.”

The core value reflects a long-term commitment and renewed emphasis on keeping the patients at the forefront of the health system’s mission and vision. While patient centricity is not a new concept within DUHS, formalizing it as our core institutional value will hopefully be a constant reminder of its central importance.

“Patients think about their care as a total experience, from the first impression to the last impression of the service that is being provided,” said Mary Ann Fuchs, DNP, RN, vice president of patient care and system chief nurse executive. “If they encounter a person who is not kind, supportive or caring, regardless of their role, that one action can negatively influence their view of Duke Medicine as a whole.“

Sowers, who leads a committee to evaluate patient-centered care practices at Duke Hospital, said the committee recognized the importance of every employee’s response to patients and their loved ones.

“Even though you may not be a care provider, we are all part of the overall health system’s success. It’s not just about people at the bedside, but everyone, “said Sowers.

“Our core value includes three important components,” said Carl E. Ravin, MD, president of the Private Diagnostic Clinic. “While the focus on patients is clear and critical, it’s an unfortunate fact that not all of our patients can be actively involved in their care, so it’s important that their loved ones are engaged, comfortable with the care being provided and that they feel cared for at all times.”

The third concept – caring for each other – is a fundamental necessity for providing the kind of consistent, compassionate care that we aspire to deliver to patients and their loved ones. Mutual respect for each team member, understanding and appreciating the value of each person’s contributions, and being able to constructively challenge each other to achieve our very best makes possible our collective ability to focus on our patients.

“Living the values requires that all of us work as a team and recommit each and every year to new ways of acting to become better than the year before,” said Sowers

As an academic medical center, the values also present new opportunities to work together, teach and learn. “Collaboration with all the team members is the critical part of the values.

For example, in the position of advocacy as a nurse, we are responsible for making sure our teams work together, that we are good team members and we look out for each other for the good of the patients, their families and ourselves,” said Fuchs.

View the complete pdf of the  Sept. 2011 Inside Duke Medicine or click through the articles online.