Patient centricity: Alienating patients from their own decisions is subjugation

Abstract

This paper aims to scope patient centricity as being more than patient-clinician interactions and to raise a number of challenges. Patient centricity ¹ is about listening to and working with patients from the ill-informed to the well informed. The concept does not attempt to isolate or overturn clinical expertise but rather, add a useful dimension which promotes trust and self-care. There are many examples of patients and clinicians working together, making shared decisions and promoting self-care to varying degrees. These examples, however, are isolated like spring desert flowers with many disappearing.

Patient centricity requires the sharing of patient data and the right to correct errors. This requires an approach where the clinician gives up some authority in favour of increased equity and trust. Patient centricity, patient centred approaches and patient pathways are all about involving the patient in decisions, collaborating with the patient as a partner and about addressing the inequality of power between clinician and patient. Where there is a lack of patient centricity unfortunate events can occur across the industry.

Clinicians, patients and the health industry are working together better and there are a number of notable success. In many ways patient centricity has only just started to emerge as a permanent feature.