Person-centred care: what is it and how do we get there?

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Engagement
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The healthcare landscape is evolving with increasing patient expectations for personalized care.
• Traditional healthcare models often lack a holistic approach to individual patient needs and lifestyles.
• Partnership working in healthcare is recognized as crucial for improving service delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define the essential components of person-centred care.
• To explore strategies for embedding person-centred care across all healthcare levels.
• To examine the role of patients in driving cultural change towards person-centred practices.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual analysis of person-centred care principles.
• Exploration of partnership working at consultation, service, and system levels.
• Discussion of patient involvement in healthcare research, training, and commissioning.

Main Results:

• Person-centred care necessitates a fundamental culture change within healthcare organizations.
• Effective implementation requires addressing care at multiple levels: consultation, service, and system.
• Patients are key stakeholders who can actively contribute to achieving person-centred care.

Conclusions:

• Embedding person-centred care requires a paradigm shift towards collaborative healthcare models.
• Meaningful patient involvement in various healthcare domains is essential for successful implementation.
• Achieving person-centred care is vital for meeting contemporary patient needs and preferences.