Define "patient-centered care" in the context of quality environments.

Patient-centered care is fundamentally about tailoring healthcare services to individual needs and preferences. This approach recognizes that each patient is unique, with their own values, beliefs, and circumstances. In a quality environment, it emphasizes the importance of understanding and integrating these individual elements into care plans.

By prioritizing the patient's voice and needs, healthcare providers can enhance patient engagement, satisfaction, and outcomes. This means actively involving patients in decision-making regarding their treatment options, ensuring they receive care that aligns with their personal goals and lifestyle.

The focus on personalized care leads to more meaningful interactions between healthcare providers and patients, fostering a therapeutic relationship based on trust and mutual respect. Ultimately, patient-centered care works to improve the overall quality of care by delivering services that are respectful of, and responsive to, the individual patient's preferences, needs, and values.