{"id":2375,"date":"2011-11-14T10:32:22","date_gmt":"2011-11-14T15:32:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.healthit.gov\/buzz-blog\/?p=2375"},"modified":"2026-01-06T15:10:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T15:10:37","slug":"putting-patients-center-health-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/insights-updates\/putting-patients-center-health-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Putting Patients at the Center of Their Health Care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Those of us working on health information technology<\/a> (health IT) and health reform talk frequently about how health IT can lead to better coordination of care and better outcomes for patients. I strongly believe this is true. There are regular conversations about health IT promoting \u201cpatient-centered care.\u201d But what does that really mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patient-Centered Care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Often, people use the term \u201cpatient centered care\u201d when discussing how to assure health care professionals have all the necessary information about their patient\u2019s other health care services. This is important\u2026very important! From a health care professional\u2019s perspective, he or she can provide better treatment to a patient if they have more comprehensive information and can see a more complete picture of the patient. Electronic health records (EHR) and electronic health information exchange (HIE) efforts have helped health care providers have the right information, about the right patient, at the right time. This is a key focus of the work of ONC and is central to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services\u2019 incentive programs<\/a> promoting adoption and meaningful use of EHRs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, patient-centered care is\u2014or should be\u2014much more. If people really want patient-centered care, care needs to be viewed from the patient\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What would a patient think?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Patients want and expect health care providers to have all relevant information about his or her personal health and health care services (consistent with privacy preferences) in order to treat them. Patients have other expectations and needs and have relevant information that may not be in the hands of their health care providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients are sometimes the only<\/em> source for particular information that affects their health, their diagnoses, and the best treatment alternatives. The bottom line is – patients know best.<\/strong> They know how they feel, they know their symptoms, they know their priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n