Here at Collington, we focus on offering our residents person-centered care. What is person-centered care? It is defined by the World Health Organization as “empowering people to take charge of their own health rather than being passive recipients of services.” Essentially, this type of care promotes residents to have a strong voice in the decisions regarding their health and wellness.
Respect for the patient and their values is the top priority with this type of care. Doctors, nurses and physicians are trained to interact with patients in an empathetic and compassionate way. They are encouraged to offer support beyond what a typical healthcare professional would provide. They help to explain medical terminology and present information in a way that the patient can fully understand and be able to make an informed decision about their own health. Throughout their entire healthcare journey, conversations are had between the healthcare professional, the resident and the resident’s family, if they choose to include them. Every decision is made as a team, making sure the patient is always in full agreement and understands what their options are.
In addition to respect and dignity, individuality is another main component of person-centered care. Here at Collington, our healthcare professionals understand care is not one-size-fits-all. Each person is unique, and their care and treatment plans should be as well. Person-centered care recognizes the patient as an individual, and keeps that in mind every step of the way. The doctor, nurse or physician gets to know the patient on a deeper level by asking about their background, their interests, what makes them feel good and ways in which they like to be supported. We understand every person responds to things differently, and person-centered care makes an effort to truly understand that and use those differences to create a personalized plan for each individual patient.
Patients who receive person-centered care have a much higher recovery and success rate than those who don’t. Having the opportunity to play a more collaborative role in their own health results in patients being more willing to cooperate with their healthcare plan, including taking medications properly and on time, and sticking to their treatment plans. Patients feel more satisfied with their care overall thanks to the opportunity to decide whether they want to go through with a procedure, treatment plan or medication, or if they’d prefer to opt out. Confidence comes from knowing they have a say in their health and that it is tailored to their preferences.
In addition to the positive effects person-centered care has on the patient, it also has them on the healthcare professional as well as the community here at Collington. As previously stated, patients have a higher recovery rate through this type of care, which has a positive effect on their mental health as well. Patients are far less likely to have complaints or give healthcare workers a hard time when having to administer medications because they played a role in deciding their treatment plan. Patients also feel confident in knowing they can receive personalized support whether it be physically or mentally throughout their healthcare journey, which can help improve their state of mind.
The positivity that radiates from satisfied patients spreads throughout the community and makes it a great place to be for everyone. Good health and health care are key to a flourishing society, and person-centered care help us get there.
