Implementation of Person-Centred Coordinated Care: Components and Challenges
This essay critically discusses the key components necessary for and the obstacles impeding the successful implementation of person-centred coordinated care. It will explore the fundamental principles of person-centred care, highlight its advantages, and delve into the barriers that hinder its comprehensive application.
Defining Person-Centred Care:
Person-centred care is a multifaceted approach that takes into consideration the diverse definitions and concepts associated with it, as it evolves across countries, regions, and workplaces. It fundamentally revolves around tailoring healthcare services to individual preferences, needs, and values, fostering a holistic and collaborative patient-provider relationship.
Benefits of Person-Centred Care:
Person-centred care has been linked to improved patient outcomes, higher satisfaction rates, and enhanced healthcare experiences. By placing the patient at the core of decision-making processes, healthcare providers can address the unique needs of each patient, leading to more effective treatments, better adherence to medical advice, and greater overall well-being.
Critical Components of Person-Centred Coordinated Care:
Effective Communication: Open and transparent communication between healthcare providers and patients forms the cornerstone of person-centred care. Clear and empathetic dialogue fosters trust, enables shared decision-making, and promotes a mutual understanding of treatment goals.
Holistic Approach: Beyond treating specific medical conditions, person-centred care considers the broader physical, emotional, and social aspects of a patient’s life. This approach acknowledges that health is interconnected with various dimensions of a person’s well-being.
Individualized Care Plans: Developing personalized care plans empowers patients to actively participate in their treatment journey. These plans are tailored to a patient’s preferences, values, and circumstances, ensuring treatments are aligned with their unique needs.
Continuity and Coordination: Seamless coordination among healthcare professionals, specialists, and support services ensures a consistent and comprehensive approach to patient care. This minimizes fragmentation, reduces errors, and optimizes outcomes.
Obstacles to Implementing Person-Centred Coordinated Care:
Lack of Clear Definition: The lack of a standardized definition and understanding of person-centred care among healthcare professionals can lead to inconsistent practices and misunderstandings.
Inadequate Education: The limited emphasis on person-centred care during medical education and training may hinder healthcare providers’ ability to effectively implement this approach in practice.
Shortage of Staff: Overburdened healthcare systems, staff shortages, and increased patient admissions strain resources and impede the provision of sufficient one-on-one time between healthcare providers and patients.
Time Constraints: Pressures related to time constraints can result in rushed interactions, preventing healthcare providers from engaging in thorough discussions and attentive listening to patient concerns.
Person-centred coordinated care is a dynamic approach that requires a comprehensive understanding of its principles and challenges. By addressing the identified obstacles, healthcare organizations can prioritize the implementation of person-centred care, thereby improving patient outcomes, enhancing patient-provider relationships, and creating a more patient-centric healthcare system.
Works Cited
Nelson, Charles J., and Steven W. Gordon. “The meaning of patient-centered care: patients’ perspectives.” Journal of Family Practice 55.6 (2006): 473-478.
Stewart, M. A. “Patient-centered care: a practical approach.” Sage publications (2001).
Pelzang, A., T. P. Latimer, and J. A. R. DeVita. “The barriers to patient-centered care: a systematic review.” BMC health services research 10.1 (2010): 10.
Buerhaus, P. I., D. O. Staiger, and J. H. Auerbach. “The shortage of hospital nurses: real or perceived?” Health affairs 25.4 (2006): 105-112.
