Why Patient-Centered Care Is So Important

Did you know that 1/4 of patients throw away prescriptions because they can’t afford them? Healthcare decisions have become more difficult because it can be costly to get the care you need.

It’s so important for doctors to collaborate with patients so that they can help provide the best treatment plan for their patients. Keep reading, and we will guide you through the importance of patient-centered care.

Value-Based Care

Value-based care is another way of saying patient-centered care. It’s a healthcare delivery model where the providers, including hospitals and doctors, are compensated based on the health outcomes of their patients.

It’s a way for doctors to help patients improve their overall health and make their day-to-day more manageable. They help decrease the effects of chronic diseases using evidence-based on the patient’s health outcomes.

The value part of value-based care comes from the quality measurements of health outcomes against the delivery price. This makes patient data access vital.

Patient data access helps pull together how the patient reacts to their treatment. Clinical trials aren’t the only way that we get health data now.

You can dive deeper into how data is pulled together and outcomes research. The main goal of outcomes research is to use data to create strategies to improve patient care.

Why Patient-Centered Care Is Important

Patient-centered care is critical because everyone’s body reacts differently to a treatment. What works for one patient might not work for another in the same way.

Doctors are trying to personalize treatment plans to make the day-to-day manageable so patients can feel empowered to take control of their own care. Keeping them informed helps them make better healthcare decisions for themselves.

Healthcare professionals take the next step and include patients in making decisions on:

• What treatments they will do
• Which medicines to take

This will make the patient feel confident in their care and have a handle on it. We live in a time where there is an overflow of information in healthcare.

It can feel overwhelming for patients even to know where to start. Having their doctor explain everything can help them feel like they have a grip on the situation.

Also, the cost of healthcare has only grown; in the past ten years, it has increased to about 4%. It can also be overwhelming to figure out what your insurance covers and what you have to pay out-of-pocket.

Shifting Healthcare to Be Patient-focused

Now that you understand the importance of patient-centered care, you can be empowered as a patient to take control of your healthcare journey. Not every treatment works for everyone, and it’s essential to look at the specific person.

Providers are working on using patient data to find better ways to treat patients based on the specific person. They are working to involve the patient in all decisions, from what treatments they should do to what medicines they should take.

Start the shift to patient-focused care and make your health more manageable. Find similar health and lifestyle content on our blog here.