Patient centricity has taken precedence over the last few years. When in the not-so-distant past, healthcare was limited to the one-size-fits-all approach, and patients were often put at ease with the care they received, healthcare was impersonal and disconnected. Not to mention that the healthcare system was fragmented and focused on addressing immediate medical needs instead of comprehensive, holistic care. Furthermore, the lack of patient input puts clinical trials at a disadvantage. This provider-centric approach also often led to limited and inaccurate care and miscommunication.
However, the recent paradigm shift towards putting patients at the Centre of healthcare became much more efficient. This approach prioritizes patient needs, preferences, and past experiences to create and deliver solutions that are tailored to individual needs.
Advantages of Patient Centricity in Healthcare
Drive Better results
One of the significant benefits of making healthcare patient-centric is that patients become active participants in their care. Once patients begin to understand their condition and treatment options and can make decisions, they are more likely to stick to the treatment plans, follow up on appointments, and make better choices. Acknowledging that patients know more about their symptoms also enables providers to co-create better treatment plans.
Improve Patient satisfaction
Patient satisfaction is correlated to the quality of care they receive. When patients are active participants in their healthcare, they are likely looking for the best treatment plans. From the very moment they enter the ecosystem to treatment and post-discharge care, every interaction they make influences their perception of service. In a patient-centric model, integrated care, empathy, support, responsiveness, and education on disease awareness can be extremely helpful. Furthermore, fostering seamless and transparent communication helps build the trust and satisfaction of patients and the quality of care they receive.
Increased efficiency
Patient engagement has a crucial role to play in educating healthcare, improving patient-stakeholder coordination, and developing effective healthcare plans. Contrary to conventional belief, patient centricity does not just prioritize patient-first care but is also a catalyst for streamlining healthcare processes and effective resource optimization. When healthcare providers are more aware of the patient’s needs, they are likely to develop plans that cater to the care and make them address health issues better before they escalate.
Building an ecosystem that works around patients instead of them working for it requires careful planning. And to create this model that keeps patient-centricity in the spotlight, the following key components need to be considered.
6 Key Components of Patient-Centric Care
Empathy
Besides smart approaches and informed decisions, empathy lies at the heart of patient-centric healthcare. Beyond simply addressing symptoms and delivering care, when providers understand, validate, and empathize with emotions, fear, and the challenges patients face, they slowly begin to build a sense of connection between them. Thus, creating a safe space where patients feel comfortable expressing concerns and seeking guidance.
Customization
When it comes to developing care plans, the patient-centric approach understands that no two patients are alike, and what may work for one might not work for the other. Rather than following the conventional one-size-fits-all approach, providers need to tailor treatment plans based on each patient’s biomarker, health history, and lifestyle.
Continuity of care
Patient-centric care is not static but requires continuous improvements. Healthcare providers must embrace the culture of innovation, patient engagement, and adoption of patient centricity. Even after treatment, providers should strive to deliver seamless and coordinated care by addressing patient’s evolving health conditions. It may necessitate incorporating technology for remote monitoring.
Embracing Technology
Innovation and technology have significantly impacted medicine and healthcare. From the dramatic improvement in networking to the development of successful clinical trials and electronic Health Records (EHR), telemedicine, mobile health apps, wearables, remote monitoring, and communication have become streamlined. By harnessing the power of technology, providers can deliver improved care and enhance patient experiences as well as reduce clinical burnout.
Improving patient care stands at the core of the healthcare industry. But, for long, this approach towards care has not been focused on patient centricity. Therefore, an ecosystem that stands on improving patient outcomes stands at the crux of improved healthcare.
