Patient Education Network

Princess Margaret Hospital

Patient-Centred Care

The Patient Education Network at PMH supports a model for patient-centred care that encourages health providers, patients and their families to form a partnership. This partnership ensures patients receive education, support and care that are tailored to their individual needs and preferences. This model integrates the biopsychosocial perspective of health care, which considers not only the treatment of diseases, but also the health and wellness of the “whole person”, including personal experience, illness, circumstances and preferences of the patient.

This model is based on the assumption that health and wellness start with patients and that patients should be educated about their disease, be offered choices and use services based on their own needs. Decision-making is shared according to the wants and needs of patients. Within this model, both the patients and providers become full participants in health care through improved communication and a strong patient-provider relationship.

The cornerstone for this new system is the commitment to place patients at the centre of their care, by supporting patients, by educating patients, and by empowering patients. Building on this commitment, we know that patients need community support extending well beyond hospital walls – support from their families, from patient groups, their family doctors and community health care providers. All of these stakeholders must be included as we develop programs to support patient-centered care.

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