The American College of Physicians seeks to clarify the role patients and their families play in their own care in a paper published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
In the paper, ACP outlines the following four core principles for patient and family partnership care:
- Patients and families should be treated with dignity and respect.
- Patients and families should be active partners in all aspects of their care.
- Patients and families should contribute to the development and improvement of health systems.
- Patients and families should be partners in the education of healthcare professionals.
The paper includes recommendations for healthcare organizations on how to implement each principle into daily practice. Suggestions include creating a shared agenda for visits, using language patients can understand, and involving patients and families in quality improvement efforts.
"ACP's principles position patients and their families in their rightful place at the center of care in partnership with their healthcare team with the goal of improving outcomes and satisfaction," ACP President Ana María López, MD, said in a press release. "This partnership is critical for our rapidly changing healthcare system to be effective."
To view the full paper, click here.
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