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Patient and Family Centered Care

Patient and Family Centered Care (PFCC) is an approach to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of healthcare that is grounded in mutually beneficial partnerships among healthcare providers, patients, and families.

PFCC has four core elements and these four elements create a patient and family centered environment:

  • Respect and Dignity — Healthcare practitioners listen to and honor patient and family perspectives and choices. Patient and family knowledge, values, beliefs and cultural backgrounds are incorporated into the planning and delivery of care.
  • Information Sharing — Healthcare practitioners communicate and share complete and unbiased information with patients and families in ways that are affirming and useful. Patients and families receive timely, complete and accurate information in order to effectively participate in care and decision making.
  • Participation — Patients and families are encouraged and supported in participating in care and decision-making at the level they choose.
  • Collaboration — Patients and families are included on an organization-wide basis. Healthcare leaders collaborate with patients and families in policy and program development, implementation and evaluation; in healthcare facility design; and in professional education, as well as in the delivery of care.