Bergeson SC, Dean JD. A systems approach to patient-centered care. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2006 Dec 20;296(23):2848-2851

Providing care centered on patients' needs and expectations is a key attribute of quality care. Unfortunately, despite the intent and efforts of many to improve patient centeredness, the quality of patient- clinician relationships, patient access, and continuity of care appear to be worsening in the US and lag behind other countries. Clinicians do not consistently address patients’ concerns, do not always assess patients’ beliefs and understanding of their illness, and often do not share management options with patients. In this Commentary, the authors propose four specific changes that should help the medical profession meet patients' needs.

Britto MT, Anderson JM, Kent WM, et al. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center: transforming care for children and families. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. Oct 2006;32(10):541-548.

At Cincinnati Children's Hospital, family members and patients participate at all levels of the organization, from the organization-wide family advisory council, to unit-based inpatient teams, to serving as family faculty who teach pediatric residents and orient new employees. Family members ensure that children's and parents' voices are heard.

When Things Go Wrong: Responding to Adverse Events. A Consensus Statement of the Harvard Hospitals. Burlington, Massachusetts: Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors; March 2006.

This consensus paper of the Harvard-affiliated hospitals proposes a full disclosure when adverse events or medical errors occur, including an apology to the patient. The paper represents the collaborative effort of a group of clinicians, risk managers, and patients participating from several Harvard teaching hospitals and the Risk Management Foundation.

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Ethical Force Program Consensus Report. Improving Communication—Improving Care. Chicago, Illinois: American Medical Association; 2006.

This consensus report by the American Medical Association Ethical Force Program describes the importance of communication to health care and how organizations can take steps to ensure effective, patient-centered communication. The report separates organizational performance into six measurable areas of performance that serves as a framework for healthcare organizations seeking to improve in this area.

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The Ethics of Using QI Methods to Improve Health Care Quality and Safety. The Hastings Center. July/August 2006.

This special supplement to the July/August 2006 issue of The Hastings Center report explores the ethical dimensions of efforts to make health care safer and better through continuous improvements in patient care, with special attention to the relationship between everyday QI activities and the ethical rules and regulations governing human subjects research. The report is supplemented by examples, definitions, charts, and summaries of regulations. (The report is funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in the Department of Health and Human Services.)

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Wasson JH, Moore LG (eds). Technology for patient-centered, collaborative care. Journal of Ambulatory Care Management (special issue). 2006 Jul-Aug;29(3):194-237.

**Special issue of the Journal of Ambulatory Care Management on patient-centered, collaborative care with articles by various authors. Special issue editors: John H. Wasson, MD, and L. Gordon Moore, MD.**

These 10 articles explore restructuring care to achieve fundamental changes that result in more patient-centered care. Articles include: Patients Report Positive Impacts on Collaborative Care; Resource Planning for Patient-Centered, Collaborative Care; "Patient Portals" and "E-Visits"; Health Disparity and Collaborative Care; others.

Full text of 10 articles is available! Click view articles below.

Conway J, Johnson B, Edgman-Levitan S, Schlucter J, Ford D, Sodomka P, Simmons L. Partnering with Patients and Families to Design a Patient- and Family-Centered Health Care System: A Roadmap for the Future. A Work in Progress. Institute for Family-Centered Care and Institute for Healthcare Improvement; unpublished manuscript June 2006.

This paper provides background information to facilitate the development of an action plan to ensure that sustained, meaningful partnerships with patients and families are in place in hospitals and health systems; in community clinics and other ambulatory settings; in schools educating the next generation of health care professionals; in national associations; in federal, state, and community agencies; in foundations and advocacy organizations; and among payers. The paper was drafted at the request of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in preparation for a one-day invitational meeting convened by the Institute for Family-Centered Care and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in June 2006.

See also:

Partnering with Patients and Families to Design a Patient- and Family-Centered Health Care System: Recommendations and Promising Practices (April 2008) 

Patient- and Family-Centered Care Organizational Self-Assessment Tool

Silow-Carroll S, Alteras T, Stepnick L. Patient-centered care for underserved populations: Definition and best practices. Washington, DC, USA: Economic and Social Research Institute; January 2006.

This report from the Economic and Social Research Institute describes the key components of patient-centered care that are unique to underserved populations. The report includes advice for incorporating patient-centered care into daily work and in organizations. Five case studies describe successful and innovative strategies at hospital systems and community health centers.

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NHS survey of inpatients 2005: Services for inpatients. London, England: Healthcare Commission; 2005.

In 2005 the Healthcare Commission, an independent inspection body for England's National Health Service (NHS), conducted the third annual national survey to ask adult patients from 169 acute and specialist NHS Trusts across England about their experiences of care as inpatients. This report presents survey results in the following areas: patient care and treatment; ambulance care; emergency department; admission to hospital; the hospital and ward environment; relationships with staff; operations and procedures; and leaving hospital. [More information about the survey can be found at the Healthcare Commission website.]

Full text available! Click view report below.

Joint Commission Resources
Oak Brook, Illinois, USA; Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; 2006

Patients as Partners guides providers through the process of including patients and families in patient safety efforts and care decisions. Features special discussion of the effects of varying health literacy levels and cultural perspectives.