Patient-Centered Care and Precision Medicine in Healthcare
Patient-centered care, also known as person-centered care, is focused on allowing patients more autonomy regarding their treatment. Practitioners aim to create more of a partnership dynamic between themselves and the patient, and patients are encouraged to ask questions to understand everything the practitioner is telling them. Patient-centered care is critical, as it facilitates a good relationship between practitioners and patients, dramatically improving health outcomes, adherence levels, and trust.
Patient-centered care involves a great deal of empathy, which should drive clinician decision-making. Family members are often also involved in the decision-making process for patients, making it a more holistic approach to healthcare.
Patient-centered care is closely linked with precision medicine (also known as personalized medicine), which considers many aspects of each individual, such as their genetics, environments, and lifestyles. This is opposed to a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach based on the broader population. In combination, patient-centered care and precision medicine can and will have a vast impact on the world of healthcare.
Patient-Centered Care, Precision Medicine and Customized Treatment
Patients should be able to choose from multiple treatment plans, which should be tailored to each individual, which is where patient-centered care comes in. It helps incorporate patients’ core values, preferences, and goals to determine treatment priorities. You can think of patient-centered care as a foundation for customized treatment plans.
Precision medicine compliments patient-centered care and provides enhancements in customized treatments, as it brings in a more scientific approach. Genetic and molecular information in precision medicine help to predict treatment responses and disease, allowing for more targeted therapies that are likely to be highly effective.
These two aspects of medicine, combined with continuous feedback and communication, have a significant positive impact on how patients interact with their treatment plans.
Patient-Centered Care and Technology
Technology helps move patient-centered care forward, with online systems and wearable technologies allowing patients more control over their treatments. Telemedicine also gives patients in rural areas equal opportunities to access healthcare, and patient-centered care emphasizes the importance of equal access to healthcare. In our blog post ‘The Challenges of Digital Patient Engagement in Healthcare', you can read more about how technology affects patient engagement.
Electronic health records and care management platforms can also help with patient-provider communication and help with personalized treatment plans. This is because a comprehensive understanding of each patient's medical history can be viewed. Patient portals also give patients more autonomy, as they can access their medical information securely online.
Personalized treatment algorithms made through data analytics and artificial intelligence have allowed for the prediction of patient responses to treatment plans, which can help to create customized plans for each patient that fit their specific needs. Moreover, interoperability allows data to be shared equally, and healthcare providers can exchange information seamlessly, meaning that all relevant caregivers are informed about a patient's medical history, making care better coordinated and holistic.
Benefits of Patient-Centered Care and Precision Medicine
Increased Adherence / Improved Outcomes
When patients feel that a practitioner values their opinions, perspectives, and needs, it can lead them to adhere to and engage with their treatment plans. Patient-centered care focuses on this, making patient satisfaction levels much higher. Clinical outcomes are also improved, which can be because of increased levels of trust between the practitioner and the patient. Their relationship is more established and equal than a hierarchical approach, meaning that patients will feel fully heard and valued.
Precision medicine improves clinical outcomes since each treatment plan is based on genetic makeup or biomarkers. Patients are less likely to receive ineffective treatments or have adverse side effects.
Accurate Diagnoses / Early Disease Detection
Patient-centered care leads to more transparent communication between the patient and the practitioner, which leads to more accurate diagnoses. Miscommunications are a downfall in the healthcare sector, and practitioners must understand exactly what their patient is telling them. Patients can then make more informed decisions about their treatment plans and feel like they see the whole picture.
Precision medicine is essential in early disease detection and prevention, as genetic and molecular testing can accurately identify disease risk factors before symptoms appear.
Less Disparities
When individuals are considered in patient-centered care and precision medicine, there will be fewer disparities because practitioners can consider the social, cultural, and economic differences between patients and how this might affect their access to healthcare.
Better Use of Medical Resources
Patient-centered care means that medical resources can be used more accurately, as there will be less waste of medical testing or other aspects that will not be relevant in diagnosing a patient or even with their treatment. Through patient-centered care, practitioners can fully understand patient goals and proceed accordingly.
SRG and Our Patient-Centered Approach
The principles of SRG have been evangelists for patient-centered outcomes management and care since the 1980s. Over the last twenty years, SRG Software has been fortunate to contribute to developing many patient-centered care and precision medicine software solutions, and we look forward to continuing to support this movement as it contributes to the rising tides of global health improvement.
