We Still Have a Long Way to Go to Achieve “Patient-Centric” Health Care

Dear Editor,

Traditionally, the provision of health care services was based only on reports of technical and physiological outcomes, and voices from patients were never considered. But the patient’s health and medical experience are central to the purpose of clinical medicine. If medical treatment is only successful in a limited technical sense, but does not have any benefit for those receiving treatment, then the intervention fails. “To Cure Sometimes, To Relieve Often, To Comfort Always.” Dr. Trudeau’s epitaph is still shining with humanity to patients today.

In recent years, the rise of “patient-centered” philosophy in the field of global health care can be said to be a useful response to this humanistic spirit. But obviously, each of us knows that patients still get cold, rational numbers, and treatment plans most of the time, ¹ and no one really cares about their inner fear, pain, anxiety, etc. The main reason for this phenomenon is when doctors were medical students, they were taught to promote people’s unhumanized views and value systems that favor technical strength, speed, and efficiency rather than interpersonal skills. ²

So, what can we do? Perhaps, we can draw inspiration from the narrative medicine proposed by Charon, ³ that is, “medicine practiced with the narrative competence to recognize, interpret, and be moved to action by the predicaments of others.” But it is not enough to know the theory. We need more healthcare workers who can act like “real human being.” As a manager of a medical institution, maybe we can do 3 things.

First, hospitals could develop series of trainings related to narrative medicine for their doctors. For example, workshops, role-playing, and guidance and practice of narrative medical record writing. Doctors may understand the true meaning of narrative medicine and stimulate their inner humanity.

Second, in clinical practice, select departments to practice narrative medicine, let doctors see the value of this way for patients.

Third, identify doctors with humanistic care for patients in the workplace and encourage their behavior, so that more doctors can use them as role models to learn and surpass.

Obviously, we still have a long way to go to be patient-centric. But we believe that if we want to, we will get there.