The 1950s was a big decade for medicine. The first studies were conducted linking smoking to health issues. The first successful use of an artificial heart occurred in 1957, and a psychologist named Carl Rogers pioneered the idea of patient-centered care.
The idea has caught on quite a bit in the decades since. Now you can find some patient-centered care practices at every doctor’s office in the country. You’ve probably encountered this style of care without knowing it.
What is patient-centered care, though, and why is it such a big deal? We’ll answer that question and more in this article.
This is a hard question to answer because it’s so common now that we don’t even think of it as a school of thought. It’s a view that a more powerful, smarter patient is a happier one.
Patient-centered care is built on the ideals of mutual respect and informed consent. Healthcare professionals serve as advisors, giving their opinions on what the patient should do. Throughout the process, the caregiver and patient clearly communicate any ideas or concerns that they have.
This will make the patient feel more involved in their healthcare. The patient might also become more informed. They might feel empowered to ask more questions.
Communication is a key part of the doctor/patient relationship. Both parties often make better decisions when they know the full scope of the situation.
The problem is that communication is often difficult in medical situations. This is because medical professionals often don’t feel like they can fully commit to each case.
Between their caseloads, interactions with insurance companies, and all of the paperwork that comes with most cases, it can be hard to focus. It’s all too easy for each patient’s case to become one more thing to do instead of what they got into medical or dental care for in the first place.
Clear communication is important, but it can only do so much if both parties aren’t taken seriously. This is why the idea of patient autonomy is important. The more comfortable the patient is with the level of care they’re receiving, the more likely they are to have a positive experience.
A positive attitude and a good relationship with their doctor statistically increases their overall health. This can even apply to dentistry, and you can find out how at burlesonseminars.com.
According to research, patients treated in a patient-centered care setting got over their conditions faster. They also reported better experiences with their doctors and needed medical services less often.
Patient-centered care is a philosophy in medicine that argues that the more information and authority a patient has over their own health and treatment, the higher the quality of treatment is likely to be.
We’ve talked about this in more detail in the paragraphs above, but there’s always more to learn. You can learn more about health, business, technology and other lifestyle topics by looking around our website. You never know what you might find.
