Patient-focused versus Patient-centered

Do you prefer patient-focused or patient-centered medical care? What’s the difference?

Patient-focused care centers on doing things to benefit the patient. For the most part, interventions are done to you and for you. Examples of patient-focused care include designing office architecture that accommodates mobility-assist equipment; multidisciplinary meetings among professionals to discuss your case; and efficient scheduling practices to minimize patients’ wait times. At the beside, you experience patient-focused care when members of the healthcare team offer you…

  • Comfort (e.g., a warm blanket; words of reassurance)

  • Education (e.g., about your disease or treatments)

  • Emotional support

  • Consultation with allied health professionals

  • Assistance with obtaining financial support

Patient-centered care is an approach where healthcare professionals partner with patients, ensuring the patient voice is heard and honored whenever possible and appropriate. Examples are including patient advocates as essential members of organizational committees; involving patients in program design and professional educational events to provide the patient perspective on promoting patient-focused care. At the bedside, patient-centered care includes giving patients some uninterrupted time and facilitating shared decision-making.

Which do I prefer for myself? Both! I want patient-focused care all the time and, depending on the situation, patient-centered care to the degree that works for me. How much I want to be involved in decision making varies, as discussed in Square Pegs.

Healthy Survivors seek and facilitate patient-focused and patient-centered care that helps them obtain expert and compassionate care.

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