A Vision of Patient Centered Health

'Patient-centered' is a term used that has become common language in my organization since 2014 when the redeveloped organizational values, mission and vision were released. We have been using 'patient centered' care terminology in organizational emails from the CEO and other senior leaders. This has become important and meaningful language amongst colleagues. Working for an organization that uses ‘patient centered care’ and ‘patient centered approach’ in policy writing, staff memos, and communication promotes a feeling of care and awareness. Knowing that the words we use lead us to the actions that model this behaviour is important for providing high quality care.

Patient centered care is one of six requirements that leads to high quality care, as noted by Dhalla and Tepper, according to the provincial definition utilized by Ontario (2018). In the research published in CMAJ, “Improving the quality of health care in Canada,” Dhalla and Tepper state that there are “still large gaps between what we know to be high-quality health care and the care that many Canadians receive” (2018). Dhalla and Tepper note that patient centered care is a future goal for improved health for Canadians. Further, “many jurisdictions, including Ontario, speak to high quality care which encompasses safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and patient centered” (Dhalla & Tepper, 2018).

In an effort to create patient centered high quality care strategies must be created and implemented. One of the strategies identified by the province and written in "A Healthy Ontario: Building a Sustainable health care system' is to created improvements in streamlining processes for efficient care. One such measure is to develop a centralized intake and shared access to electronic medical records. These are key features of a well-integrated health care system, "as these tools will improve the allocation of services and connect patients with the right level of care at the most appropriate time” (Gov't of Ontario, 2019). Improving processes for care with efficiency will effectively improve access to care. Improvements such as digital and technological input, in tandem with personal health information can further develop streamlined, patient centered, high quality care. Furthermore “integrating health care systems that would follow the patient” is required for patient centered care (Premier, 2019). As the Premier notes, “An integrated health care system will improve access and availability of services throughout the health care system, will have a positive impact on wait times and will help solve the problem of hallway health care” (2019).

Moreover, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) reports that “real-time sharing, interdisciplinary collaboration and the adoption of best practices across institutional and geographical boundaries” are already being conducted in some areas (CMA, 2017). Prior to the Pandemic available technology allowed digital connectedness. Technological advancements and connections have been integrated into many sectors with success it is time for the health care sector to join in and advocate their their clientele reap the rewards.

In the technological realm of health information there is risk of personal health information (PHI) breaches. These risks negatively impacted the ability to move more rapidly and make the advancement needed for patient centered care. Further findings have been evident in the past 2 years in relation to the COVID-19 Pandemic that has forced a change to health care service. Not only has the pandemic impacted us all with the social isolation, increased mortality, but the mandatory public health measures in place created the need to implement technology for health care.

Connecting to physicians, nurse practitioners, counsellors, physio therapy and other health care providers through technology has become life saving care. The benefits to provide care through technological connections became greater than the risks. Making digital, technological access, advancements and connections to patients has the ability to truly provide access to care, that is patient centered.

Vulnerable populations that most social determinants negatively affect may continue to experience health inequity, however the advancements made during the pandemic in access through technological connects may help.

Health care systems, innovators, public health and other community agencies are aware of the needs of their communities they serve when they review the data. Proactive planning for access to care for vulnerable populations, as well as the patient and family caregivers, seniors, homeless, mentally ill will provide equitable access to care. I look forward to a future of a patient centered , digitally connected health integrated system without barriers to care, where health care providers are truly part of the health care team and willing to wrap the services around the patient and family caregivers.

Canadian Medical Association. Improving the health of all Canadians: A vision for the future The CMA’s platform on the 2017 federal/provincial/territorial health accord. Retrieved November 30, 2021. https://www.cma.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/News/improving-the-health-of-all-canadians-a-vision-for-the-future.pdf

Irfan A. Dhalla and Joshua Tepper, Improving the quality of health care in Canada, CMAJ October 01, 2018 190 (39) E1162-E1167; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.171045. https://www.cmaj.ca/content/190/39/E1162

Ontario. A healthy Ontario: Building a sustainable health care system. June 25, 2019. The 2nd report from the Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine. Retrieved Nov 30, 2021. https://www.ontario.ca/document/healthy-ontario-building-sustainable-health-care-system