Essentials of Care (EOC) program: Putting patients at the centre
What are we seeking to achieve and how? | Patient benefits | Staff benefits | Who will be involved? | Key components | Resources and support | More infoThe EOC program provides nurses and other health professionals with a method to explore and understand current clinical practice and practice environments and to develop ways to further enhance them.
The program focuses on patients' experience, as well as what the patients', their families and health professionals value about effective and relevant patient care, care that recognises all that's essential for achieving the best outcomes. EOC's major focus is in the development of clinical environments that empower patients, their families and health professionals to work towards this together and to challenge the issues that compromise this.
EOC has been developed in response to feedback from patients which indicates the need to improve fundamental aspects of their care, such as hygiene, nutrition, comfort and communication and from health professionals who express the desire to provide better, safer care to patients.
What are we seeking to achieve and how?
This program will engage nursing and other clinical staff and will focus on improving the experience of the patient and achieving cultural change in the workplace. The program aims to enable staff to achieve this goal through evaluating fundamental aspects of care delivery, identifying opportunities for the development of clinical practice and the care environment and engaging clinicians in practice development.
Patient benefits
- encourage patient participation in decisions about their care
- focus on patients' needs and their experiences of care provided
- value the contributions from all involved in care
- support the ongoing review and development of practice
- use relevant research and evidence that is generated from practice and care settings.
Staff benefits
Staff will be engaged in all aspects of the program and subsequent decision-making about necessary changes relating to patient care and the clinical environment. This will lead to higher levels of ownership and satisfaction, better work environments, ability to deliver good, safe care and to challenge impediments. An important feature of the program will be recognition of contributions and achievements, and provision of learning and professional development opportunities for staff.
Who will be involved?
The program will be implemented across Area Health Services (AHS) in NSW over the next two years. A wide range of staff will be involved in its implementation and, in units where it is implemented, staff at all levels will be encouraged to be involved throughout the program. Participating facilities and units will be negotiated with AHS to ensure implementation is co-ordinated, responsible and supported.
Key components
One of the main requirements of this program is to have skilled facilitation to engage the right people and methods to achieve patient centred care and outcomes. It is also important that there is ongoing evaluation of care using a range of approaches such as patient stories, observation of care, critical discussion and clinical audit. Staff are responsible for action planning to prepare, implement and evaluate strategies to achieve agreed outcomes and improve all aspects of care.
Resources and support
A lead facilitator will be appointed to each AHS and they will collaborate with AHS staff to develop a two-year implementation plan. The overall program has ongoing support from the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer of NSW. Facilitation skill development programs will be conducted across NSW in line with program implementation. These programs will draw on the skill and expertise of staff within the clinical area to participate in and lead this work. The intention is for this program to become a way of working with available resources.
More info
If you would like to find out more, the first person you need to talk with is your manager.
This web page is managed and authorised by Nursing & Midwifery Office of the NSW Department of Health. Last updated: 31 March, 2009