When Health Care Needs a Centre, When It Doesn't, and Why It Matters.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Healthcare Models
• Patient-Centred Care

Background:

• The principle of centredness in healthcare, particularly person-centred care, is widely accepted but conceptually ambiguous.
• This ambiguity complicates the practical implementation of centred care models.
• Existing centredness models may oversimplify care, create binary structures, and lack cultural sensitivity or inclusivity for non-persons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine the concept of centredness in health care.
• To explore alternative frameworks beyond traditional centred models.
• To identify pathways for developing more responsive and adaptable health care systems.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of centredness in health care.
• Exploration of alternative care models, including distributed and hybrid approaches.
• Discussion of the limitations and potential challenges of different frameworks.

Main Results:

• Centredness, while addressing historical imbalances, risks oversimplification and exclusion.
• Distributed care offers flexibility and inclusivity but poses coordination challenges.
• Hybrid models integrating centred and distributed elements present a potential way forward.

Conclusions:

• The concept of a singular 'centre' in health care requires re-evaluation.
• Alternative frameworks like distributed and hybrid care offer more adaptable solutions.
• Empirical research is crucial to compare these models for diverse health care needs.