Table 1 The eight dimensions of patient-centered care
Patient preferences | Healthcare professionals treat patients with dignity and respect and involve them in decisions regarding their care. They support patients in setting and achieving treatment goals, e.g., via individualized care plans based on patients’ needs, wishes, and preferences |
Information and education | To empower them to be in charge of their care, patients are informed about all aspects of their care and have access to their medical records. The information provided is suitable for all education levels, migration backgrounds, languages, and ages, among others. The need for informative and open communication between patients and healthcare professionals is recognized |
Access to care | Healthcare is affordable, and medical buildings are easily accessible for all patients (including, e.g., those who are blind and those who use wheelchairs or walkers). Appointment scheduling is easy and wait times are short |
Physical comfort | Healthcare professionals pay attention to patients’ physical comfort by, e.g., providing pain management and addressing sleep problems and shortness of breath. Physical comfort is optimized at the organizational level via the provision of comfortable, clean (waiting) rooms and sufficient privacy |
Coordination of care | The organization’s team of healthcare professionals is well informed about the care delivered to their patients, and care delivery is well coordinated, e.g., via frequent team meetings. Patients know who is coordinating their care and whom they can contact when they have questions about their care |
Continuity and transition | When multiple healthcare professionals are involved in care provision to a patient, they all transfer information regularly and adequately, and ensure that their care delivery and advice are well coordinated. When patients are referred to healthcare professionals in other disciplines, they know where to go and why |
Emotional support | Healthcare professionals offer emotional support to patients when needed, by paying attention to patients’ possible fear, depression, and anxiety, and the impacts of chronic conditions on patients’ private lives. Patients are made aware of their ability to obtain emotional support, e.g., from social workers or peer groups |
Family and friends | As many conditions impact not only patients, but also their family members and friends, healthcare professionals involve these individuals in the care process (with patients’ consent). They provide support and address any questions and needs regarding patients’ care |