Author Archive for Mark Tomaszewicz
Mark Tomaszewicz is the director of experiences at Starizon, an experience design and staging firm based in Keystone, CO. Mark and Starizon seek to guide and inspire healthcare organizations in the exploration, design, and implementation of compelling experiences for patients and staff. As an avid trail runner, Mark never met a hill he didn’t like ... but he has difficulty "merely" hiking.
Guest Post: The Difference Between Patient-Centered Care and Patient Experience
People tend to use the terms patient-centered care and patient experience interchangeably. Done well, each represents an important shift in patient care, but they aren’t the same.
It is possible to be a “patient-centered” organization and still have a poor patient experience. However, a great patient experience is predicated on the inclusion of and interaction with the patient and their family.
The similarity of the terms (and approaches) is in the effort, focus, and commitment it takes to deliver patient-centered care or stage a patient experience in a meaningful way.
Patient-centered care is a philosophy that promotes the inclusion of the patient (and family) in the care decisions of the patient. This approach manifests itself in access to information, choice in treatment across the full range of integrated and clinical possibilities, and embracing the family as a care partner, among other things. The goal of patient-centered care is to put the needs of the patient first.
For example, at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute they have a simple rule: “Involve the patient in every decision” in all roles throughout the organization. [more]
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