Creating a Culture of Patient-Centered Care

Why Patient Engagement Matters

As payments to hospitals and ambulatory providers become increasingly dependent on improving patient satisfaction and patient engagement, it is vital that health care systems create and maintain a culture of patient-centered care. However, many hospitals don’t have the time or the skills to create and maintain this sort of culture — one that is capable of changing behaviors across health care teams, increasing patients’ engagement in their own care and helping patients make healthier lifestyle choices.

Learn More About Patient Engagement

How JHPEP Helps Organizations
Achieve Patient-Centered Care

The Johns Hopkins PEP program is built on the successful patient engagement training used across Johns Hopkins Medicine. Unlike most one-way, online communication skills training, the JHPEP program provides in-person, interactive training that emphasizes skills development. The program’s unique year-long post-training maintenance phase with expert coaching is vital to help participants practice and advance their skills to achieve the culture and provider change that is necessary.

Program Components

JHPEP is rooted in evidence-based communication principles and motivational interviewing skills that can be customized to meet local needs. JHPEP has several components:

Planning

Includes a culture assessment, identification of the JHPEP team and champion leaders, clarification of team goals and development of a training plan.

Introductory Training

120-minute, web-based learning

In-person Workshop

4 hours of skills training and a 1-hour education session for JHPEP champion leaders

Maintenance & Evaluation

1-year post-workshop support of trainee to help maintain learned skills, using email “JHPEP Tip of the Month” with video learning and expert coaching of local champions, evaluation support with measurement of learner and patient outcomes

JHPEP

Implementation

The Johns Hopkins patient engagement program is implemented primarily through live, in-person interactive training sessions adapted to local needs.

Proven Success

More than 2,000 providers across Johns Hopkins Medicine and external to Johns Hopkins Medicine have participated in the patient engagement program (PEP) since it was first offered in 2012. Data from those participants indicate high levels of learner satisfaction with PEP and valuing of the skills taught. Additional data indicate that learners experience significant improvement in provider communication skills and provider knowledge and attitudes about what helps to improve patient engagement in health care. Preliminary data also show that PEP contributes to improved HCAHPS scores on the Provider Communication Composite.

Is JHPEP Right For You?

The Johns Hopkins PEP is ideal for any health care operation that wants to adopt and embrace a partnership mentality with their patients.

Program Innovators

Stephen T. Wegener, Ph.D., ABPP

Director

Division of Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology

Stephen T. Wegener, Ph.D., ABPP is director of the Division of Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology, professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and a professor of Health Policy and Management in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His clinical activity is focused on providing psychological services to persons with traumatic injuries and chronic illness. His research focuses on theories and projects that have the potential to improve function and reduce disability. These projects emphasize the importance of patient-centered care models, self-management by patients and the use of motivational interviewing by providers. His research has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Defense and several foundations.

Nicole Schechter, Psy.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Nicole Schechter, Psy.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Clinically, Dr. Schechter specializes in providing psychological services to persons with chronic health conditions. Her research is focused on the factors that improve patient-provider relationships and patient-provider collaboration to effect positive patient health outcomes and organizational change. She serves as the coordinator of the Johns Hopkins Patient Engagement Program.

Learn More

Ready to learn more about how the Johns Hopkins Patient Engagement Program can help you and your organization? Contact us to start the conversation.

Patient Engagement Program (JHPEP)