New principles for patient care
The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released a set of principles that aims to solidify the role of patients and families in their care plans. ‘Principles for Patient and Family Partnership in Care’, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, highlights the following principles: 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 healthcare systems; and patients and families should be partners in the education of healthcare professionals.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released a set of principles that aims to solidify the role of patients and families in their care plans. ‘Principles for Patient and Family Partnership in Care’, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, highlights the following principles: 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 healthcare systems; and patients and families should be partners in the education of healthcare professionals.
“ACP's principles position patients and their families in their rightful place at the centre of care in partnership with their healthcare team with the goal of improving outcomes and satisfaction,” said ACP President Dr Ana María López. “This partnership is critical for our rapidly changing healthcare system to be effective.” In Principles for Patient and Family Partnership in Care, APC cites increasing evidence that patient and family partnership in care can improve health outcomes, practice efficiency, and patient and professional satisfaction.
The paper outlines recommendations for how to implement each principle in daily practice such as using language that the patient can understand, developing a shared agenda for visits, and including patients and families in quality improvement activities.