The Core of Care Management: The Role of Authentic Relationships in Caring for Patients with Frequent Hospitalizations

Authors
Charlotte Grinberg
Margaret Hawthorne
Marianna LaNoue
Jeffrey Brenner
Dawn Mautner
Peer-Reviewed Article
August 2016

This resource draws on 30 interviews with former clients of the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers. It is the first study to define and discuss the importance of “authentic healing relationships” between providers and patients with frequent hospitalizations.

  • The relationships with providers in the Coalition were defined by three characteristics: security (accepting, present, reliable, attentive); genuineness (nurturing, honest, respectful, and interested in the individual); and continuity (reliable follow-up care).
  • This kind of relationship is linked to patient motivation and active health management.
  • Team members reliably visited clients in their homes, resulting in a greater sense of security for clients and motivation to do better.
  • The resource advocates for training on how to create authentic healing relationships to be a part of health care curricula and accreditation.
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