17 Conclusion
Relationship-focused care and services requires continuous and active cultivation of trusting relationships with all members of the team. This includes other providers, the patient/client, family and community, and others involved in care and services.
Frameworks, models and tools exist to help teams explore the depth of these relationships and provide opportunities for team self-assessment and quality improvement, hence better health outcomes for all.
The following quote returns us to the learning objective of this section: recognize the importance of the relationship between the person/patient/client and circle of care and services, while focusing on the lived experiences of persons and respecting diversity, such as thoughts and beliefs.
“The concept of person-centered care shapes the culture of the healthcare system. It not only occurs at the patient – healthcare provider level, but also at the system level, in that patients, families and the public should be involved in planning, decision-making and evaluation at the organizational level. This involvement ensures that care is person centered for all people accessing the healthcare system, not just on an individual basis with their healthcare providers.”
Susanna McLeod, Patient Engagement Consultant, Shared Health Manitoba
Next Steps
We invite you to consider doing the reflection exercise following the reference page for your own benefit before proceeding to the next chapter.
