Patient Centered Care: Putting the Patient First

Patient-centered care is a custom-tailored approach. It takes the individual patient into account when making care recommendations. While the practice of medicine uses a great deal of science, not all approaches will work well for every patient. That’s where this approach comes into play.  It’s more than just following intuition and the available science. It takes unique patient preferences into account – from individual challenges to lifestyle factors. As care providers, we need to listen to our patients and prescribe programs that adapt to their needs and align with what is realistic for them.   A doctor driven approach is different- the doctor is the authority and dictates the nature of care and can leave the patient feeling unheard and uncared for.

Your health and well-being require action on both your part and that of your healthcare provider. You and your doctor should achieve a therapeutic alliance- to be working together toward the same goal. It should feel like your doctor is treating you and not your illness/injury/body part. You will achieve better results when you follow the requirements within a customized recovery and wellness plan. So, look for a partner when seeking medical assistance – and,  remember, when choosing a healthcare provider or a hospital, look for a patient-first approach.