What Is Patient-Centered Care and Why Is It Important?

Have you integrated patient-centered care into your practice? Patient-centered care is a practice model that emphasizes the needs and preferences of the patient to provide the best possible care. (2) Associated with higher patient satisfaction, improved outcomes, and enhanced communication, the patient-centered care model is a popular evidence-based approach to healthcare, no matter your modality or specialty. (15) Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of patient-centered care and the strategies you can implement to improve patient care in your practice.

In this article, we’ll touch on: 

• What is patient-centered care? 
• Patient-centered care examples 
• Patient-centered care benefits
• 6 elements of patient-centered care
• Implementing the patient-centered care model
• Frequently asked questions

Key takeaways:

• Patient-centered care has been shown to improve patient satisfaction, health outcomes, and treatment plan adherence by focusing on patient preferences, values, and active involvement in care decisions. (10)(15)(20)
• Providers benefit from higher job satisfaction and employee retention when using patient-centered care strategies, allowing them to better meet patient needs and foster a fulfilling work environment. (5)
• Patient-centered care assesses the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional health, fostering a collaborative relationship between providers and patients. (12)(14)
• Effective communication is central to patient-centered care, as it helps build trust and reduce health disparities, particularly for underserved populations. (9)(23)(28)

What is patient-centered care?

According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), patient-centered care involves “providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions.” (2)

Patient-centered care is one of six domains of healthcare quality as outlined by the IOM, which also include safe, effective, timely, efficient, and equitable healthcare. Since the IOM has emphasized the importance of patient-centered care, interest among healthcare professionals and organizations to implement this approach has increased. (2)

The shift from a conventional, biomedical, and provider-centered approach to a biopsychosocial, patient-centered approach that honors a patient’s preferences, needs, desires, and experiences helps improve various markers of patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. (15) This type of care model requires open communication between the patient and provider, encouraging patients to play an active role in clinical decision-making and care management. (4) Integration of patient-centered care is essential during all phases of healthcare—from consultation to treatment and follow-up. (7)

Patient-centered care vs. conventional medical care

A conventional medical approach often positions the provider as the primary decision-maker, guiding the care process with the patient following their recommendations. In comparison, patient-centered care embraces a more collaborative and inclusive approach, encouraging active participation from both the patient and provider. Providers educate patients about their options, including risks and benefits, and work together with them to select a care plan that matches the patient’s individual needs and values. (14)

A conventional medical approach also focuses largely on diagnosing and treating specific physical symptoms. In comparison, a patient-centered approach uses whole person care to assess the patient’s physical and mental health states as a whole, recognizing the importance of the patient’s overall life context in their health status. It seeks to address the root cause of the problem, rather than only the symptoms, often incorporating lab testing to assess a wide variety of internal factors. (12) As a result, patient-centered care can involve enhanced communication and a unified strategy between multiple providers with varying specialties to ensure the patient receives the most optimal care and addresses all relevant areas of their health. (17)

Patient-centered care examples

Patient-centered care can be implemented in many different ways. For example, if a patient visits their primary care doctor complaining of fatigue, rather than immediately prescribing medication, the provider might inquire about their work-life balance, sleep patterns, mental health status, and exercise frequency. This encourages the patient to manage not just their physical health but their emotional well-being as well by making lifestyle changes. The provider might also connect the patient with a mental health counselor if stress or depression is suspected to be the cause. (19)

During palliative and end-of-life care, a patient-centered approach would prioritize the patient’s wishes surrounding pain management, comfort, and emotional support. (22) If a patient decided they wanted to spend their final days at home, surrounded by family members, their providers would work with them to create a home-care plan that matches their values and desires, ensuring a team of nurses and support staff were available to help every step of the way. 

Patient-centered care benefits

Applying a patient-centered care model offers many benefits for patients and your practice.

Improved health outcomes

Extensive research has demonstrated the benefits of patient-centered care, particularly for improving clinical outcomes. Patient-centered care can improve knowledge regarding health conditions and treatment plans, as well as perceptions of care. Patient-centered care can also encourage patients to take an active role in condition management, which can help improve their mental and physical well-being. (21)(24)

Additionally, low health literacy is associated with poorer health outcomes. (11) By integrating a patient-centered approach that incorporates tailored education, patients can leave your office with the knowledge and confidence they need to reach their health goals successfully. (26)

Reduced cost burden for patients

Patient-centered care is associated with reduced healthcare utilization and, consequently, lower annual medical costs for patients. According to a 2011 study of over 500 patients, those who received patient-centered care over the course of a year had significantly fewer annual visits to specialty care providers and required fewer hospitalizations and laboratory or diagnostic testing. (6)

Increased treatment adherence

A 2016 meta-analysis demonstrated that patient-centered care is associated with improvements in treatment adherence, a measurement of how closely a patient’s behaviors follow an agreed-upon prescription or therapeutic regimen. It’s suggested that emphasizing the clinical benefits of adhering to a treatment plan versus instructing patients to take their medications or supplements as directed is a successful approach for improving treatment adherence. (10) 

Enhanced communication and patient satisfaction

Communication plays a vital role in a patient’s perception and satisfaction of care. Patient-centered care, which prioritizes patient-provider communication, is associated with a 23% improvement in overall patient satisfaction. (20)

The 2015 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Chartbook on Patient-Centered Care concluded that the perceived level of communication between provider and patient is a significant indicator of patient satisfaction. (3) According to the report, marginalized groups, particularly Black and Hispanic populations, were more likely to report having poor communication with their healthcare provider compared to White individuals. Individuals with lower levels of education also reported poorer communication with their providers versus individuals with higher education levels. Furthermore, those covered by Medicare or other public insurance were more likely to have poor communication with their providers than privately insured patients. Although these disparities are still widely present in healthcare, the report did note that communication has significantly improved from 2002–2013 for all ethnic, education, income, and age groups. (3)

Reduced health disparities

Despite improvements to healthcare access, many individuals continue to face barriers to high-quality care. Some evidence suggests that the patient-centered care model is an effective tool for reducing racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender health disparities. (28) By establishing trust and providing a welcoming and inclusive environment that honors your patient as a whole person, providers can improve the quality of care and patient outcomes for patients. (9)(23)

Increased job satisfaction

Providers and their level of job satisfaction may benefit from the patient-centered care model given that this type of care allows providers to effectively address their patients’ needs, contributing to feelings of fulfillment and accomplishment. In fact, according to one study, employees of healthcare facilities that utilized patient-centered care strategies reported improved job satisfaction and experienced higher employee retention. (5)

6 elements of patient-centered care

What does patient-centered care look like in practice? A 2017 review published in the European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare identified six elements of patient-centered care. (8) Outlined below are the six elements of patient-centered care and the simple strategies you can incorporate into your practice.

1. Engage your patient as a whole person

Respecting the individual patient and their needs and preferences is of utmost importance. Treating your patient as a whole person involves assessing multiple aspects of your patient’s health, including their dietary preferences, mental health, family, culture, socioeconomic status, and more. Make a conscious effort to recognize your patients as individuals with unique needs rather than solely focusing on a diagnosis. (8)

2. Recognize and respond to emotions

As a provider, it’s necessary to identify and understand emotional cues as well as validate and respond to these cues. If your patient expresses fear, uncertainty, or other emotions in response to their condition or treatment plan, convey empathy and reassure them that you’re committed to helping them achieve improved health outcomes. For additional support that may be out of your scope of expertise, suggest resources such as support groups or counseling. (8)

3. Foster a therapeutic alliance

Establishing a trusting relationship with your patient is an essential component of the patient-centered care model. Sharing power is an important consideration when building a therapeutic alliance. Allow your patient to voice their concerns and thoughts regarding their treatment plan to determine a mutually agreeable plan. (8)

4. Promote an exchange of information

Prioritize communication with your patients throughout all phases of care. In one study, patients reported that clear, timely, and courteous communication from their providers is important. (27) Provide educational resources, such as printed handouts or other informational resources, to further enhance communication.

It’s also essential to ensure that your patients clearly understand the information you’re sharing with them. For example, avoid using technical jargon or other complex medical terminology and use everyday words instead. Consider asking your patients to repeat their understanding. This provides an opportunity to clear up any misunderstandings before the end of your consultation. (8)

5. Share decision-making

When discussing potential treatment plans and ideal outcomes, it’s beneficial to engage in shared decision-making versus prescribing without considering patient input. During their visit, encourage your patient to open up about any perceived barriers, reservations, or preferences. Ensure mutual understanding and agreement by first defining the problem you and your patient want to address, outlining treatment goals and priorities, and determining the specific roles and tasks for which you and your patient will be responsible. (8) Additionally, for some conditions and treatment options, using a validated decision aid can help you and your patient determine the potential benefits and risks of each option. (16)

6. Enable continuity of care, self-management, and patient navigation

Providing information to your patient to help them self-manage their condition can also be beneficial. Self-management is defined as assistance offered to patients to help them navigate their chronic condition and manage their symptoms on a daily basis. (1)

Strategies for enabling self-management and continuity of care include:

• Maintaining regular communication through email, phone calls, text messages, or other means
• Offering educational materials
• Planning routine preventative care appointments and follow-up visits
• Providing referrals to additional resources such as other integrative healthcare providers, support groups, and smoking cessation programs (1)

Implementing the patient-centered care model

Patient-centered care considers a patient’s unique needs and preferences to improve satisfaction with care and health outcomes. You can implement the patient-centered care model into your practice by acknowledging your patient as a whole person, being responsive and empathetic to emotions, building a trusting alliance, enhancing communication and exchanging information, sharing decision-making, and enabling continuity of care and self-management.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any drawbacks to a patient-centered care model? 

While the patient-centered care model offers many benefits, there are some potential drawbacks. It can be resource-intensive, requiring more time, coordination, and communication among care teams, which may lead to higher costs or longer wait times. Implementing patient-centered care can also require significant changes in healthcare systems and training for providers, which may be challenging in certain settings. (13)(18)

What are the main obstacles to patient-centered care? 

The main obstacles to patient-centered care include limited resources, such as time and staffing, which can make it challenging for healthcare providers to offer the personalized attention that this model requires. Financial constraints and resistance to change on the parts of both healthcare institutions and patients can also create barriers to comprehensive care. (13)(18)

How can you measure results when using a patient-centered care model? 

Results in a patient-centered care model can be measured through various methods, including patient satisfaction surveys, feedback on communication and shared decision-making, and tracking clinical outcomes like recovery times and readmission rates. Patient engagement metrics, such as participation in care planning or the use of health management tools, can also provide insight. Additionally, quality-of-life assessments and patient-reported outcomes such as pain levels and emotional well-being are key indicators of success in patient-centered care. (12)(25)