7.4 Patient-centered care and satisfaction

Patient-centered care puts patients first, focusing on their needs and preferences. It's about treating patients as partners in their healthcare journey, not just passive recipients. This approach aims to improve care quality through better communication and more informed decision-making.

Factors like good communication, short wait times, and a comfortable environment influence patient satisfaction. Patient-centered care can lead to better health outcomes, increased adherence to treatment plans, and higher satisfaction scores. Tools like shared decision-making aids and patient portals help promote engagement.

Patient-centered care: Definition and principles

Core concepts and approach

Top images from around the web for Core concepts and approach

• 

  Patient- or person-centred practice in medicine? - A review of concepts View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  healthinformatics - Patient Centered Medical Home View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Continuous Quality Improvement and Comprehensive Primary Health Care: A Systems ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Patient- or person-centred practice in medicine? - A review of concepts View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  healthinformatics - Patient Centered Medical Home View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Core concepts and approach

• 

  Patient- or person-centred practice in medicine? - A review of concepts View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  healthinformatics - Patient Centered Medical Home View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Continuous Quality Improvement and Comprehensive Primary Health Care: A Systems ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Patient- or person-centred practice in medicine? - A review of concepts View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  healthinformatics - Patient Centered Medical Home View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Patient-centered care prioritizes individual needs, preferences, and values of patients to guide clinical decisions
• Treats patients as partners in healthcare journey rather than passive recipients of medical interventions
• Shifts from disease-centered to patient-centered models focusing on the whole person
• Aims to improve healthcare quality through better provider-patient communication
• Leads to more informed decision-making and improved health outcomes

Key principles

• Respect for patients' values, preferences, and expressed needs
• Coordination and integration of care across healthcare system
• Information, communication, and education to empower patients
• Physical comfort addressed as crucial component of care
• Emotional support provided to alleviate fear and anxiety
• Involvement of family and friends in care process
• Continuity and smooth transitions between healthcare settings
• Access to care ensured regardless of patient background

Factors influencing patient satisfaction

Communication and interpersonal factors

• Quality of provider-patient communication impacts satisfaction (clarity, active listening, empathy)
• Technical competence and perceived expertise of providers influences patient trust
• Cultural competence of providers affects satisfaction in diverse populations
• Continuity of care and coordination among providers contributes to positive experience
• Empathy and emotional support from staff impacts overall satisfaction

Operational and environmental factors

• Wait times for appointments, procedures, and in facilities affects experience
• Physical environment shapes perceptions (cleanliness, comfort, privacy, amenities)
• Accessibility of services impacts satisfaction (ease of scheduling, after-hours care)
• Efficiency of administrative processes influences overall experience
• Availability and clarity of health information provided to patients

Patient-centered care and healthcare outcomes

Clinical and safety outcomes

• Improved management of chronic diseases through patient engagement
• Increased adherence to treatment plans and medication regimens
• Reduced hospital readmission rates and decreased length of hospital stays
• Improved patient safety outcomes (reduced medical errors, adverse events)
• Enhanced health literacy and self-management skills among patients

Satisfaction and quality measures

• Increased patient satisfaction linked to higher perceived quality of care
• More appropriate use of healthcare resources and reduced costs
• Improved long-term health outcomes (quality of life, functional status)
• Higher scores on standardized quality measures and patient experience surveys
• Greater likelihood of patients recommending healthcare providers/facilities

Promoting patient engagement and shared decision-making

Tools and technologies

• Implement shared decision-making tools and decision aids for treatment options
• Develop patient portals and mobile health applications for information access
• Utilize patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to capture perspectives
• Incorporate patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) into clinical practice
• Implement bedside rounding practices including patients and family members

Organizational strategies

• Train providers in effective communication techniques (motivational interviewing, teach-back methods)
• Establish patient and family advisory councils for organizational decision-making
• Develop personalized care plans incorporating patient goals and preferences
• Create patient education programs to enhance health literacy and self-management
• Implement team-based care models to improve coordination and patient involvement