Patient-Centered Medicine: Transforming the Clinical Method

This excellent book is the definitive work on an old but still evolving concept. . . . What impressed me most about the book is that the authors practice what they preach. The reader is treated the same way that the authors exhort us to treat our patients--with respect, tolerance, understanding, and caring." --Canadian Medical Association "This book is a concise description of a patient-centered model of patient communication, written for clinicians, educators, and researchers. There are six key elements in the authors'' model, each of which is illustrated by one or more clinical vignettes. The purpose is to describe and explore a model of physician-patient communication that emphasizes patients'' needs rather than the traditional medical model, for the purpose of education and research on patient-centered medicine. The authors clearly achieve the objective of describing and explaining their model." --Doody's Health Sciences Book Review Journal "This book provides an excellent discussion of many of the issues related to patient-centered medicine. The authors outline the six interacting components, which are the assessment of disease and illness; the integration of that assessment with the understanding of the whole person finding common ground between the doctor and the patient; using each visit as an opportunity to build on the relationship; prevention and promotion; and throughout the process being realistic concerning the time, resources and energy needed. . . . Because occupational therapists work as members of a multidisciplinary team, this text is an excellent overview and discussion of the position of another discipline on issues related to patient-centered practice. As such, it broadens our understanding of the implications of applying this approach." --British Journal of Occupational Therapy The evolution of attitudes and roles in society are reflected in many facets of our lives. In the medical community, these changes are most evident in the shifting relationship between doctor and patient. Confronted with the demand for more egalitarian approaches to health care, physicians may find themselves ill prepared to accept--and participate in--this redefinition of traditional medical practice. In Patient-Centered Medicine, the authors present a six-component model to assist health practitioners in expanding and strengthening their relationships with patients. Thoughtful discussions present topics as diverse as conceptualizations of ill-health; consideration of the patient as an individual; the establishment of goals and cooperative strategy between physician and patient; and the realistic allocation of time, energy, and other resources of the health care provider. Emphasizing a holistic philosophy, the work encourages physicians to surpass treatment based strictly on a one-dimensional, biomedical assessment of their patients--and thus achieve greater results. Professionals and advanced students in all health care fields will appreciate this illuminating and provocative volume.

Table of Contents:
Introduction - Moira Stewart and W Wayne Weston Why We Need a New Clinical Method - Ian R McWhinney PART ONE: THE CONCEPTS Overview of the Patient-Centered Clinical Method - W Wayne Weston and Judith Belle Brown The First Component - Judith Belle Brown, W Wayne Weston and Moira Stewart Exploring both the Disease and the Illness Experience Being Understood: Case Illustrating Component 1 - Judith Belle Brown, W Wayne Weston and Moira Stewart The Second Component - Judith Belle Brown and W Wayne Weston Understanding the Whole Person Lost Dreams: Case Illustrating Component 2 - Judith Belle Brown The Third Component - Judith Belle Brown, W Wayne Weston and Moira Stewart Finding Common Ground Breaking the Habit is Hard to Do: Case Illustrating Component 3 - Martin J Bass and Judith Belle Brown The Fourth Component - Carol L McWilliam and Thomas R Freeman Incorporating Prevention and Health Promotion "An Ounce of Prevention...A Pound of Cure": First Case Illustrating Component 4 - Thomas R Freeman, Moira Stewart and Judith Belle Brown Choices and Chances - Whose Responsibility?: Second Case Illustrating Component 4 - Carol L McWilliam and Judith Belle Brown The Fifth Component - Moira Stewart, Judith Belle Brown and Ian R McWhinney Enhancing the Relationship Control and Reassurance: Case Illustrating Component 5 - Moira Stewart, Judith Belle Brown and W Wayne Weston The Sixth Component - Judith Belle Brown, Carol L McWilliam and W Wayne Weston Being Realistic "Show Me the Way to Go Home": Case Illustrating Component 6 - Carol L McWilliam, Judith Belle Brown and John Yaphe PART TWO: LEARNING AND TEACHING Teaching the Patient-Centered Method - W Wayne Weston and Judith Belle Brown The Human Dimensions of Medical Education Dealing with Common Difficulties in Learning and Teaching the Patient-Centered Method - W Wayne Weston and Judith Belle Brown Teaching the Patient-Centered Method - W Wayne Weston and Judith Belle Brown Instructional Methods Teaching the Patient-Centered Method - W Wayne Weston and Judith Belle Brown Practical Tips The Case Report as a Teaching Tool for Patient-Centered Communication - Thomas R Freeman PART THREE: RESEARCH ON PATIENT-CENTERED COMMUNICATION Studies of Health Outcomes and Patient-Centered Communication - Moira Stewart Methods of Scoring Patient-Centeredness - Moira Stewart Qualitative Approaches that Illuminate Patient-Centered Care - Carol L McWilliam Patient-Doctor Relationships over Time - Moira Stewart Conclusion: Opportunities for the Future - Moira Stewart