Printable Fact Sheet (PDF)
At Banner Heart Hospital, we pride ourselves on taking excellent care of our patients. Our goal is to make each patient's stay with us as pleasant as possible. With this in mind, we've developed the Partner in Caring Program which encourages a family member or friend to provide additional support during a hospital stay.
What does a Partner in Caring do?
The Care Partner is involved in activities that support a patient's needs during the healing process. Partner in Caring duties may include, but are not limited to:
- Keep family members and friends informed of the patient's progress as desired
- Assist with the patient's menu selections
- Read and write letters
- Assist with personal care such as bathing, grooming and oral hygiene
- Provide comfort measures such as back rubs and foot rubs, and music or relaxation tapes
- Provide companionship and assist in maintaining therapy and safety
- Communicate Patient needs and concerns with physician and staff
- Ease transition from hospital to home
The roles of the Care Partner will largely be determined by the patient's needs and physical condition. The Care Partner will work together with the healthcare team and patient to personalize duties.
Benefits of the Program
The Partners in Caring program provides benefits for both the patient and the Care Partner.
For the patient, your Care Partner can help enhance your healing process while in the hospital and after discharge by performing some of the tasks or comfort measures you might have difficulty completing alone. He or she also serves as your advocate and works in partnership with you and the health care team in planning your treatment and recovery process.
For the family member or friend, serving as a Care Partner gives them an opportunity to enhance the quality of care their loved ones receive at the hospital. Providing direct support for a patient at a time when he or she needs it most can be a very rewarding and satisfying experience.
Serving as a Care Partner can be a significant responsibility as well. To thank those who participate in the program, Care Partners receive a 20 percent discount in the cafeteria and a 10 percent discount in the gift shop by wearing their Partner in Caring badges. Each Care Partner will also receive a complementary gift bag.
Who can participate?
All Banner Heart Hospital patients have the option to request a Partner in Caring. This person can be a family member or friend who can assist with certain tasks during a hospital stay.
How do I sign up or get more information?
If you are interested in having a Care Partner or are interested in becoming one, talk with any unit nurse to learn the specific responsibilities of a Care Partner.