How Patient-Centered Medical Homes Can Bring Meaning to Health Care: A Call for Person-Centered Care

The development of patient-centered medical homes in the United States was, among other things, an attempt to improve patients' experiences of care. This and other improvement strategies, however, have failed to confront a major barrier, our disease-oriented medical model. Focusing on diseases has contributed to subspecialization and reductionism, which, for patients, has increased medical complexity and made it more difficult to engage in collaborative decision making. The progressive uncoupling of disease prevention and management from other outcomes that may matter more to patients has contributed to the dehumanization of care. An alternative approach, person-centered care, focuses clinical care directly on the aspirations of those seeking assistance, rather than assuming that these aspirations will be achieved if the person's medical problems can be resolved. We recommend the adoption of 2 complementary person-centered approaches, narrative medicine and goal-oriented care, both of which view health problems as obstacles, challenges, and often opportunities for a longer, more fulfilling life. The transformation of primary care practices into patient-centered medical homes has been an important step forward. The next step will require those patient-centered medical homes to become person centered.