Discussion Question 2. How can patients-centered care best be implemented into clinical practice?
Patient-centered care is a vital aspect of healthcare that involves actively involving patients in their care, treating patients with empathy and respect, and providing care that meets their needs and preferences (Hudon, Chouinard, Diadiou, Boulianne, & Lambert, 2017). Implementing patient-centered care in clinical practice requires a shift from a disease-centered model to a person-centered approach, where the patient is viewed as a whole person rather than just a collection of symptoms or medical conditions (Epstein & Street, 2011).
Shared decision-making is a way of implementing patient-centered practice in clinical settings. SDM is a collaborative process that involves patients and healthcare providers working together to make decisions that are informed by the best available evidence and the patient’s preferences and values (Elwyn et al., 2012). SDM is used in clinical practice to ensure that patients actively participate in their healthcare and their preferences, values and opinions are taken into account.
A patient-centered approach can also be implemented by using patient-centered communications techniques. Healthcare providers should communicate with patients using clear and understandable language, actively listen to patients, and provide patients with information in a manner that meets their preferences and literacy levels (Epstein & Street, 2011). Additionally, healthcare professionals should pay attention to their nonverbal language. They must ensure their body posture and voice tone conveys empathy and respect.
Patients can also be involved in designing their own care plans. Healthcare providers should work with patients to identify their needs, goals, and preferences and develop a care plan that is tailored to the patient’s individual needs (Hudon et al., 2017). Patient portals and decision aids are examples of tools or educational materials that can be used by patients to take an active role in their own care.
Implementing patient-centered clinical care requires that we shift our focus from disease-centered to person-centered approaches. In order to involve patients actively in their healthcare and ensure their values and preferences are considered, healthcare providers need to use strategies such as shared decision-making, patient-centered communications, and involvement of patients in care plan design. In clinical practice, by implementing patient-centered approaches, healthcare professionals can improve the quality and outcomes of patient care, as well as patient satisfaction.
References:
Elwyn, G., Frosch, D., Thomson, R., Joseph-Williams, N., Lloyd, A., Kinnersley, P., … & Barry, M. (2012). Shared Decision Making: A Model for Clinical Practice. Journal of General Internal Medicine 27(10): 1361-1367.
Epstein, R. M., & Street Jr, R. L. (2011). The Values and Benefits of Patient-Centered Care The Annals of Family Medicine. 9(2). 100-103.
Hudon, C., Chouinard, M. C., Diadiou, F., Boulianne, I., & Lambert, M. (2017). Health coaching can help with shared decision-making in primary care. Canadian family doctor, 63(10).