Patient centered care is a partnership between the doctor or healthcare professional and the patient. When medical decisions are made, the patient and doctor act as a team and they focus on understanding the patient’s needs and desires. Vital to patient-centered care is communication. This style of care is beneficial to both doctor and patients. The patient and doctor may set goals, discuss the benefits and risks of treatments, and conduct follow-up meetings to determine if care is on track, or whether it has been successful.
Conventional Medicine
Due to the status quo in western medicine, patient-centered care seems like a bizarre concept. There is an ongoing effort to balance medical costs with quality care, which leads to challenges that are often absent in alternative medical relationships. Conventional western doctors are encouraged to see patients for only 15 minutes per visit in order to optimize profits. This leaves patients feeling neglected and discourages open communication. Patients may not have a list of questions ready to ask, especially if they need some time to process their diagnosis or discuss their symptoms. When meeting a doctor in a patient-centered care facility, there is time to discuss symptoms, no matter how insignificant, as well as treatment options.
Adopting patient-centered care strategies and allowing for enough time during a visit for open discussion will improve the quality of care and may prevent future visits. If a patient understands his illness and his treatment options, and he is given time to determine which option is best, he’s less likely to return to the doctor. If the patient feels in control of his medical care, he will continue to take responsibility for his health in the days and weeks following the appointment. A patient-centered care approach can also reduce the risk of malpractice. Adequate communication with a patient saves time and decreases the risk of future legal issues. A patient’s understanding protects the doctor. It also increases a patient’s loyalty to his doctor because he feels cared for and educated.
The Southwest Integrative Medicine Method
Dr. Robin Terranella takes pride in the patient-centered care his Arizona healthcare facility provides. The Southwest Integrative Medicine clinic provides patients with adequate time to ask questions and create (with the assistance of a doctor) an appropriate treatment program. According to Dr. Terranella, “We try to use the best of both (eastern and western methods) because both have value. Western medicine is incredible with technology but you can get lost in running a battery of tests. We focus on providing the simplest, effective, and least invasive treatment for each individual.”
A visit to the clinic includes 30 minutes of discussion prior to the physical exam. The doctor will review with you what your immediate complaint may be, as well as your health history and other medical problems. There may be symptoms that seem unrelated to the issue, but they may in fact play a vital role in diagnosis. Following the discussion, patients undergo a physical exam which may include lab work. A treatment plan is then created, and a follow-up call is made in the days after the appointment. This allows the healthcare professional to check in with the patient and determine if treatment is working.
Dr. Terranella believes it is important for the patients to make the connection between changing their lifestyle and improving their health. Longer periods of time communicating with patients allows this understanding to occur. For instance, if a person visits the clinic with a variety of ailments affiliated with obesity, Dr. Terranella will “… get at why the patient is overeating.” By treating the root cause of multiple disorders, overall health can be established. Helping a person make therapeutic lifestyle changes is usually more effective than prescribing a medication to treat a solitary ailment. Dr. Terranella aims to “… get a good understanding of what the patient’s health issues are.”
Creating balance in your body may take time. There may be underlying causes of nagging health issues which you have never taken the time to consider. By visiting a healthcare facility which prizes patient- centered care, you will have the time to explore the causes of your illnesses, and participate in creating a treatment program that is just right for you. If you would like to explore integrative healthcare options, contact Southwest Integrative Medicine today.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
