INTRO
Patient-centred care is a healthcare approach that emphasizes the importance of treating patients as individuals with unique needs, preferences, and goals. It involves actively listening to patients, involving them in decision making, and respecting their values and beliefs. The goal is to improve patient outcomes, satisfaction, and overall quality of care.
PRINCIPLES OF PATIENT CENTRED CARE
Here are some principles of patient-centred care:
1. Respect and dignity: Patients should be treated with respect, and their beliefs, preferences and values should be acknowledged.
2. Information and education: Patients should have access to accurate and meaningful information about their health status, treatment options and expected outcomes so that they can make informed decisions.
3. Involvement of family and friends: Patients should have the right to involve their family and friends in their care and decision-making processes.
4. Shared decision-making: Patients should be actively involved in decisions relating to their care and treatment.
5. Collaboration and teamwork: Patients should receive care from a team of healthcare professionals who work together to provide coordinated care.
6. Continuity and coordination: Patients should receive care that is well-coordinated and consistent across different healthcare settings.
Or if I'm to put it in the way my head of department, Dr. Ayilara likes to say it:
- Explore the patient's illness experience
- Try to know the real person suffering the disease
- Educate them on the cause, progression and treatment plan
- Achieve a common ground in the treatment plan
- Preserve human dignity in your care approach
- See every opportunity you see a patient as an opportunity for health promotion (ask the patient and relatives when last they checked their BP, Blood Glucose and Cholesterol)
COMMON BARRIERS ENCOUNTERED AGAINST PCC
Patient-centred care has gained increasing recognition as a key priority in modern healthcare. It involves a holistic approach to care which prioritizes the patient's individual needs and preferences. Despite the benefits of patient-centred care, there are still several barriers that exist in its implementation. In this thread, we will explore these barriers and the best practices to overcome them.
"The Power of Empathy in Patient-Centred Care: Why It Matters More Than Ever"
- Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.
- In healthcare, empathy is essential for providing patient-centred care, as it helps healthcare providers connect with patients on a deeper level.
- Empathy can help improve the overall quality of care by reducing patient anxiety, increasing patient satisfaction, and improving health outcomes.
- Patients who feel that their healthcare provider shows empathy are more likely to follow their treatment plans, return for follow-up appointments, and recommend the provider to others.
- In today's healthcare landscape, empathy is more important than ever, as patients are increasingly seeking personalized care and meaningful connections with their healthcare providers.
If practiced conscientiously, it'll drive away many incidents of assaults in hospitals across many countries.
One major nascent specialty especially in Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta Nigeria that imbibes this culture of empathy into her practice is Palliative Medicine which became a department fully in 2006 and at the forefront of this is Dr. Folaju Oyebola (specialist Anaesthetist/Palliative Care Physician and Pharmacologist) who could be regarded as father of this practice in Nigeria.
He has since trained other experts like Dr. Olusegun Adebisi, Dr. Saheed Ayilara and more recently, Dr. Khayrat Abikan and Dr. Mrs. Olowoyo Pat amongst others in diaspora.
Dr. Oyebola's CV is dazzling in this field and known globally for his outstanding efforts amongst his contemporaries.
Other Common Barriers
These other common barriers further reiterates the reasons for the fading level of empathy amongst healthcare personnel and even in the general population where decreasing purchasing power has been a constant K.
Barrier 1: Lack of Training and Education
One of the major barriers to implementing patient-centred care is the lack of training and education given to healthcare providers. Many healthcare professionals have not been taught how to effectively communicate with patients, understand their needs and preferences, and provide care in a way that is tailored to their unique circumstances.
Suggestion 1: Investing in Training and Education
To overcome this barrier, healthcare institutions can invest in ongoing training and education for healthcare providers. This can be in the form of workshops, seminars, and online courses that teach healthcare providers the skills and knowledge they need to provide patient-centred care.
Barrier 2: Limited Resources
Limited resources, such as time and staffing, can make it difficult for healthcare providers to provide patient-centred care. They may feel rushed or overworked, which can lead to a focus on completing tasks quickly rather than taking the time to understand the patient's individual needs.
Suggestion 2: Streamlining Processes
To overcome this barrier, healthcare institutions can streamline their processes to free up more time for healthcare providers to focus on patient-centred care. This can involve leveraging technology, such as electronic health records and telehealth, to reduce administrative tasks. It can also involve reorganizing staffing models to ensure that there are enough healthcare providers available to meet patient needs.
Barrier 3: Limited Patient Engagement
Patients may also present a barrier to achieving patient-centred care. Patients may not feel comfortable sharing their opinions or preferences with healthcare providers, or they may be unaware of the importance of doing so.
Suggestion 3: Encouraging Patient Engagement
To overcome this barrier, healthcare institutions can encourage patient engagement by implementing strategies such as patient satisfaction surveys and patient focus groups. Healthcare providers can also be trained to ask open-ended questions and actively listen to patient needs and preferences.
Conclusion:
Implementing patient-centred care requires a collective effort from healthcare providers, institutions, and patients. By investing in training and education, streamlining processes, and encouraging patient engagement, we can overcome the barriers to patient-centered care and provide high-quality, individualized care to all patients.
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