Moving Towards Patient-Centered Care
11 Julio 2024 - 2:54PM
What is Patient-Centered Care?
Patient-centered care (PCC) is a healthcare model that considers
not just a patient’s symptoms and medical history, but also their
emotional, social, financial circumstances, and values. This
approach is often seen as a collaborative partnership between the
patient and healthcare provider, where the patient’s perspective is
given equal importance to that of the doctor or nurse.
Principles of Patient-Centered Care
The goal of patient-centered care is to empower
patients to become active participants in their health journey,
improving individual health outcomes. At its core, PCC revolves
around placing the patient at the center of the healthcare
experience. It encompasses several key principles:
- Respect for Patient Values and Preferences:
Healthcare decisions should be guided by the individual needs,
values, and preferences of each patient. This requires active
communication and collaboration between patients, their families,
and healthcare providers.
- Coordination of Care: A patient-centric
approach emphasizes the importance of coordinating and integrating
all aspects of healthcare, including preventive, acute, and chronic
care, to ensure seamless transitions and continuity of care.
- Information and Education: To enable informed
decision-making, patients should be provided with information that
is accurate, accessible, and actionable.
- Physical Comfort and Emotional Well-being:
Patients’ physical comfort and emotional well-being should be
considered. Healthcare providers should offer empathetic and
compassionate support.
- Family and Caretaker Involvement and Support:
Partner with patients and families, welcome their involvement, and
personalize care.
Benefits of Patient Centered Care
Patient: A patient centered model helps patients feel
heard. It shifts the traditional role of a patient from an “order
taker” to an active “team member.” Studies show that patients
who receive patient-centric care tend to have better health
outcomes than those who do not.
Provider: Patient centered care benefits healthcare
providers by allowing them to spend more time with patients,
getting back to practicing medicine. When patients are at the
center of care, providers can facilitate more individualized care
plans that benefit practitioners and patients.
Health System: A patient centered model benefits the whole
health system by improving resource allocation and reducing costs.
It also boosts morale and productivity among clinicians and
ancillary staff.
Implementing PCC in Value-Based Models
To effectively implement PCC within value-based care,
healthcare organizations should consider the following
strategies:
- Empowering Patients: Provide patients with the
information, tools, and support they need to actively participate
in their care.
- Promoting Care Coordination: Implement
processes and technologies that facilitate communication and
coordination among healthcare providers to ensure seamless
transitions and continuity of care.
- Training and Education: Educate providers on
the principles of PCC and provide ongoing training to enhance their
communication and interpersonal skills.
- Measuring and Monitoring Outcomes: Establish
metrics to assess the impact of patient-centric care on health
outcomes, patient satisfaction, and healthcare costs.
Patient-centered care is not just a buzzword; it is a
fundamental approach to healthcare that aligns with the goals of
value-based care. By prioritizing individual needs and preferences,
providers can improve outcomes, enhance patient satisfaction, and
reduce costs. As healthcare systems evolve, embracing patient
centered care will be essential in delivering high-quality,
cost-effective care.
Thomas Royal
CHESS Health Solutions
336-821-7065
troyal@chesshealthsolutions.com