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What is person-centred care?

Person-centered care is “knowing the person behind the patient – as a human being with reason, will, feeling and needs – in order to engage the person as an active partner.”

Person-centered care reflects a shift where each individual is seen as a person first, and as a patient second. This approach to care involves partnering with patients and healthcare professionals to:

• Give patients a voice in the design and delivery of the care they receive
• Enable patients to be more active in their journey in order to deliver better health outcomes and greater value through a wiser use of resources
• Improve patient experience with their care and health outcomes

To learn more about person-centered care, watch this video by CancerCare Ontario.

What is patient experience?

Patient experience is the sum of all interactions, shaped by an organization’s culture, that influence patient perceptions across the continuum of care.

Patient experience encompasses how patients feel when they interact within the healthcare system, such as how they perceive the care they receive from various healthcare professionals or how accessible information and support is to them. Patient experience includes a range of dimensions, including:

• Access to care
• Information and communication
• Physical comfort
• Emotional support
• Patient preferences
• Involvement of family and friends
• Coordination of care
• Continuity and transition