How to Find Patient-Centric Healthcare Providers (and Why It Matters)

Healthcare providers all over the country are beginning to adapt their practices to become more patient-centric. In doing so, they place the patient experience as one of their highest priorities.

But why is this so important? Why are so many practices changing? And how can you find care providers that truly put you first?

The Value of Client-Centric Healthcare Providers

Client-centric healthcare providers are committed to their patients’ health and overall outcomes and to their comfort, happiness, and satisfaction. As a patient, the subjective benefits of such an experience are obvious. Almost anyone would rather visit a practitioner who genuinely cares about them (or at least seems to) than a practitioner who treats them like an object on a conveyor belt.

However, there are many less obvious benefits of client-centric healthcare worth considering:

• •       Fewer issues. Healthcare providers benefit from making patients a priority because it results in fewer issues and points of contention. Patients are much less likely to complain, argue, or fight back against recommendations if they feel they’re being treated respectfully and with appreciation. This is also a way for healthcare providers to save money and reduce time waste.
  •       More referrals. Healthcare institutions are also incentivized to focus on client-centric care because it allows them to generate more referrals. If a patient has an excellent experience with a certain doctor or at a certain hospital, they’ll be much more likely to encourage their friends, family, and neighbors to visit the same place or same person. While no healthcare institution wants more people to be sick or injured, they are reasonably incentivized to make sure sick and injured people do visit them.
  •       Comfort in making and attending appointments. When patients receive direct, comfortable, respectful care, they become much more comfortable making and attending appointments. This makes it much easier to follow through with recommendations, receive preventative care, and get the guidance necessary to lead to better health outcomes.
  •       Patient self-esteem and autonomy. Client-centric environments naturally boost patient self-esteem and feelings of autonomy. Each patient feels like they’re in control of their own destiny and that they aren’t just a cynical source of money for a profit-seeking institution. This allows patients to make more active, confident decisions about their own health.
  •       Better overall outcomes. Client-centric healthcare is, perhaps unsurprisingly, conducive to better patient outcomes overall. A combination of the benefits above coalesce to help patients recover faster from pretty much any injury or illness.
  •       Higher cost effectiveness. For institutions, one of the best benefits is higher overall cost effectiveness. As you can see from many of these benefits, healthcare institutions stand to save money, generate more revenue, avoid time waste, and accelerate patient recovery by putting clients first; ultimately, this makes each organization more profitable and more resilient simultaneously.

How to Find Client-Centric Healthcare Providers

So how can you, a patient, find more client-centric healthcare providers?

•       Broaden your search. Many people have a simple approach to finding a healthcare provider. But if you want to find a good fit who’s going to put you first, it’s a good idea to broaden your search. Consider looking in new channels for potential providers, even if you stay in your insurance network.
•       Get referrals. Ask your friends and family members if they have any healthcare providers to recommend. They may have had positive experiences at a certain place or with a certain person.
•       Evaluate institutions. Many healthcare institutions now make it a point to advertise their client centricity. Pay attention to how institutions position themselves and market themselves.
•       Look at individual care providers. Choosing a provider can be a difficult decision, especially if you’re not familiar with the territory. However, with so many potential providers out there, it’s only a matter of time before you can find someone who’s a good fit for your needs.
•       Read reviews and testimonials. Before making your decision, thoroughly read reviews and testimonials for both the individual and the institution you seek. If there are any issues, you’ll likely discover them here.
•       Don’t be afraid to switch. Many people, out of a sense of loyalty or familiarity, simply stick with their existing health care providers indefinitely. However, if you want more client-centric care, you need to be open to switching. Don’t be afraid to try a new provider.

Client-centric healthcare shouldn’t be hard to find, and it’s only going to get easier in the future as more health care providers and institutions discover the broad and multifaceted benefits of client-centric care. You owe it to yourself and your health to do the extra work necessary to make sure that your providers are putting you first.