Insight on What Person-Centered Care Truly Means for Facilities

“Person-centered care, also referred to as patient-centered care, is defined by the World Health Organization as “empowering people to take charge of their own health rather than being passive recipients of services.” This care strategy is based on the belief that patient views, input, and experiences can help improve overall health outcomes.

One of the key ways to involve patients in their own health is by improving interactions between patients and healthcare providers, making care feel empathetic and compassionate, not merely transactional. To accomplish this, physicians, nurses, and other staff must be trained to listen to, inform, and consult patients throughout the healthcare continuum, as well as to consider individual preferences, needs, and values when making clinical decisions.”