Adoption of Patient-Centered Care Practices by Physicians

Abstract

Patient-centered care is 1 of 6 domains of clinical care quality, along with safety, effectiveness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity.¹ According to the Institute of Medicine's definition, patient-centered care includes “providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient pREFERENCES, needs, and values and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions.”¹ The Picker Institute has delineated 8 dimensions of patient-centered care²: (1) respect for the patient's values, pREFERENCES, and expressed needs; (2) information and education; (3) access to care; (4) emotional support to relieve fear and anxiety; (5) involvement of family and friends; (6) continuity and secure transition between health care settings; (7) physical comfort; and (8) coordination of care.