Patient-Centered Care

Health care practitioners listen to and honor patient and family perspectives and choices. Patient and family knowledge, values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds are incorporated into the planning and delivery of care. This may include making special accommodations for religious restrictions regarding meal preparation and other similar considerations. Operating this way helps to create a relationship in which all parties are mutually respectful and respected.

Caregivers communicate and share complete and unbiased information with patients and families in ways that are affirming and useful. Patients and families receive timely, complete, and accurate information in order to effectively participate in care and decision-making. Caregivers can provide additional insights that can help clients to best manage conditions and enjoy the highest quality of life.

Patients and families are also included on an institution-wide basis. Health care leaders collaborate with patients and families in policy and program development, implementation, and evaluation. Patients’ and families’ suggestions and insights are also considered when making changes to health care facility design and in professional education, along with the delivery of care. ComForCare uses patient and family suggestions, as well as patients’ needs evaluations, to determine how best to provide care for each individual. This information is also ultimately used to improve care for all patients in the area. Patients may be given more companionship time, have more attention focused on condition management, or have other changes made to care routines as determined through collaboration with patients and families.