What are you treating—the symptom, disease or person? Some providers—and patients—feel like the first two are just how it works. The good news? It doesn’t have to be that way with patient-centered care.
When doctors look at various facets of patients’ lives, they can better understand the problem (and potential solutions). Plus, people feel valued and respected, making the experience better for everyone.
So, what is patient-centered care, and what does it look like in practice?
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The Patient-Centered Care Model
While the patient-centered approach is not new, it has never been fully implemented. However, many professionals advocate for the swap.
There are several ways to look at patient- or person-centered care, but most of them have the same core values, including:
Active participation
Medical professionals should encourage patients to participate by fostering collaboration and trust.
Personalized treatment
Doctors should tailor care to patients’ needs, emphasizing values, goals, emotions and preferences.
Whole-person approach
Person-centered care should also focus on whole-person well-being. While addressing physical needs, practitioners should also consider the social and emotional effects.
Shared decision-making
Patients should have a say in their care and have ample time to consider their choices. Doctors should inform patients of all possible treatment options and the benefits and negatives.
The goal is to form a collaborative relationship built on trust, respect and empathy so that people can receive better care.
Examples of Patient-Centered Care
How can practitioners perform person-centered care during busy workdays and short appointments? Here are some examples of what it looks like in practice:
Improving Communication
Talk to the patient and their family or support system (if desired) frequently. Openly inform them of their treatment options, discuss concerns and let them know how they can get involved.
Explain the treatment’s potential advantages, disadvantages and projected health outlooks and address any concerns.
Accounting for Outside Influences
When assessing a patient or designing a treatment plan, consider the social determinants of health and other external concerns. These include cultural, psychological, spiritual and social influences and access to care.
These factors can affect your patient’s health, openness and willingness to participate.
Creating a Welcoming Environment
People should feel comfortable, valued and respected when they visit you. Aside from a welcoming physical environment, physicians focused on patient-centered care will:
- Take the time to learn more about a person’s lifestyle, health goals and how their concerns impact their daily lives.
- Seek feedback regularly from their patients (and caregivers or support systems).
- Provide medical education about treatment options, such as medications, procedures or other interventions. Listen to concerns and answer questions.
Helping people feel welcome is about more than just the room’s appearance—it’s also about how you make them feel.
Does Patient-Centered Care Improve Outcomes?
Research shows that person-centered care can improve health outcomes. Some of the benefits of patient-centered care include:
- Improved psychosocial outcomes, as found in a study of diabetic adolescents who received patient-centered care.
- Reduced ER visits and lengths of hospital stays.
- Lowered surgical infection rates and fewer unplanned readmissions, which reduces costs per patient.
- Increased participation in care and adherence to medications and other treatments.
A person-centered approach may also improve job satisfaction by making you feel like you deliver “care that matters.”
If you’re ready to incorporate person-oriented care practices, expand your knowledge with continuing medical education. Browse in-person events, webinars and on-demand content to get started!