As discussed previously, patient-centered care has not always been the norm. In the past, doctors were seen as the authorities in healthcare and patients were expected to do what they were told. NEJM Catalyst (2017) states that “Patient-centered care represents a shift in the traditional roles of patients and their families from one of passive ‘order taker’ to one of active ‘team member.’” Today, patients ask questions and have the ability to research conditions and medications on the internet. The expectation from both patients and healthcare workers is that healthcare will be tailored to the individual. Patient-centered care means the patient is the central decision-maker about their own healthcare, with support being provided by the various members of a healthcare team. Patients and their family or support network are invited to be full partners in planning care and understanding their health. Patient-centered care takes into consideration many factors, such as patient and family preferences, values, cultural traditions, language, and socioeconomic conditions.

The key to patient-centered care is to offer respectful and considerate care, whatever the patient chooses after being informed of their options. For example, patient-centered care takes into consideration any resources the patient may need, such as transportation to clinic or hospital visits, home healthcare, physical therapy, and dietary education. Patient-centered care also considers factors that affect the patient’s access to services, such as whether a patient lives in a rural or urban setting and the type of providers in their area. If the patient wishes to include a person from their faith or spiritual tradition in their care, this is welcomed and facilitated. The goal is that the “right care is provided at the right time and the right place” (NEJM Catalyst, 2017).

Attributions

1. Figure 1.10: Original Image by Katherine Kelley, SBCTC is released under CC BY 4.0