Patient-centered care is a comprehensive care model that focuses on the patient’s symptoms, medical history, emotional, social, and financial factors that affect their life, as well as their values.
The Picker, an international charity working across health and social care, developed eight core principles of patient-centered care to address and meet patients’ needs. “Our ‘Picker Principles of Person Centred Care’ are an internationally renowned quality improvement framework that underpin measurement of high-quality person centered care.” These principles include:
- Timely access to healthcare advice
- Treatment by patient-trusted professionals
- Care continuity and effective transitions
- Family and caretaker involvement and support
- Transparent communication and emphasis on self-care
- Respect for patient preferences and involvement in decision-making
- Empathy and emotional support
- Consideration of environmental and physical needs
See also: How patient-centered communication improves patient outcomes
Role of communication in patient-centered care, according to Picker
Timely access to healthcare advice
Clear communication channels enable patients to access healthcare advice when needed, reducing anxiety and preventing delays in addressing health concerns. Providing patients with reliable information about when and how to seek care ensures their needs are promptly met.
Treatment by patient-trusted professionals
Trust is established and maintained through consistent, honest, and respectful communication. Patients are more likely to adhere to treatment plans and disclose relevant personal and medical information when they feel their concerns are understood and addressed by trusted professionals.
Care continuity and effective transitions
Smooth transitions between care settings require precise and thorough information exchange. Communication ensures that all stakeholders, including patients, families, and providers, are informed about care plans, preventing gaps that could compromise patient safety.
Family and caretaker involvement and support
Engaging family members and caregivers in discussions about care plans fosters a shared understanding of the patient’s needs. Open communication equips caregivers to provide adequate support while respecting the patient’s autonomy.
Transparent communication and emphasis on self-care
Providing patients with clear, accurate, and accessible information about their conditions and treatment options enables them to make informed decisions. Education on self-care practices empowers patients to take an active role in managing their health.
Respect for patient preferences and involvement in decision-making
Active listening and open dialogue ensure that patients’ values and preferences are integrated into their care. Communication that fosters shared decision-making respects patient autonomy and strengthens the therapeutic alliance.
Empathy and emotional support
Compassionate communication addresses the emotional needs of patients, offering reassurance and understanding. This approach validates the patient’s experiences and reduces feelings of isolation during challenging times.
Consideration of environmental and physical needs
Discussions about the patient’s living environment and physical needs ensure that care plans are practical and adaptable to their circumstances. Communication is key to understanding how external factors impact health and well-being.
Best practices for effective communication
Effective communication is a skill that can be taught. Here are some tips/best practices on what to consider when engaging in effective communication:
- Active listening: Maintaining eye contact, asking clarifying questions.
- Empathy: Showing understanding and compassion.
- Cultural sensitivity: Adapting communication styles to diverse populations.
How Paubox can get involved
Paubox can enhance effective communication in patient-centered care by providing secure and HIPAA compliant email and texting solutions that streamline interactions between healthcare providers and patients. With Paubox, healthcare organizations can send encrypted emails and texts directly to patients’ inboxes without needing portals or extra logins. This seamless communication fosters trust and transparency, enabling providers to share treatment updates, appointment reminders, and educational resources with patients in a timely and confidential manner. By simplifying and securing communication channels, Paubox helps healthcare providers focus on delivering compassionate, patient-centered care while meeting regulatory requirements for data protection.
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FAQs
What are the barriers to effective communication in healthcare?
Common barriers include language differences, cultural misunderstandings, medical jargon, time constraints, and emotional stress on patients or providers. Addressing these barriers requires empathy, active listening, and the use of tools like interpreters or visual aids.
How can technology enhance communication in patient-centered care?
Technologies like secure email and telehealth platforms streamline communication by enabling timely, clear, and confidential exchanges between patients and providers. These tools help bridge gaps in accessibility and convenience.
How can healthcare providers measure the effectiveness of their communication?
Providers can measure communication effectiveness through patient satisfaction surveys, feedback sessions, and monitoring patient adherence to treatment plans. These metrics can highlight areas for improvement.
Tshedimoso Makhene
