Patient-Centered Care Checklist

Patient-centered care is more attitude than protocol—every interaction with a patient, family member, or caregiver should be imbued with it.

Your team knows the main patient-centered care tenets—respect and dignity, information sharing, participation, and collaboration. But let’s take their knowledge and patient care a step further.

To do this, ask each of your team members to fill out the following cheat sheet after every patient interaction for an entire month. You’ll find that your team’s patient-centered care techniques will become more instinctive as they track their patient-centered care principles with every encounter.

Either print the sheet below or use your team’s technology (like your Care Management platform) to log these daily check-ins under your patient’s record. Be sure to edit the sheet to make it unique to your practice!

Patient’s Name: _________________________________________

*Naming each patient every time you address or describe them will help you match names with faces more quickly and bond with the person behind the patient.

Date and Time of Visit: ____________________________________

Circle your level of adherence to each requirement and add personalized examples daily for one month. At the end of the month, review your scores to see how your patient-centered care has progressed.

Have I inquired about my patient’s preferences today?        

Examples:

• Do you prefer pharmaceutical or holistic alternatives for pain management? 
• Is a capsule or tablet easier for you to swallow? 
• Would music or silence put you more at ease?

Have I supported my patient emotionally today?

Examples:

• Have I taken note of my patient’s mood today? 
• Have I attempted to uplift their mood, if necessary? Did it work? 
• Have I listened to my patient’s concerns, frustrations, and fears today, particularly about their care?

Have I supported my patient physically today?

Examples:

• Have I helped my patient stand up/sit up/walk/reach/eat/drink today?
• Have I checked on my patient’s seated and bedded comfort?
• Have I encouraged and enabled exercise?

Have I educated my patient about their condition and care?

Examples:

• Have I shared care plan changes our team has made or is considering?
• Have I clearly explained the potential side effects of treatments and medications?
• Have I shared the latest research on my patient’s condition and treatment?
• Have I provided all alternatives for my patient’s care? 

Have I helped my patient transition to the next phase of care?

Examples:

• Have I provided a list or diagram of steps in my patient’s care plan?
• Have I explained the results of all tests and care plan adjustments? 
• Have I provided clear contact information and directions or transportation options required to start the next care phase (if the next phase is with a different specialist or facility)?
• Have I made it clear that even after seeing other specialists, my patient can continue to check in with me whenever needed?

Have I coordinated care seamlessly with other providers?

Examples:

• Have I read the notes of the last provider who met with my patient?
• Have I taken detailed notes about my visit and shared them in a place that the rest of the team can access in the case of my absence?
• Have I alerted specialists to any relevant care plan changes or uncertainties that need clarification?

How have I helped reduce barriers to care access?

Examples:

• Have I provided a list of all providers my patient’s care plan may require?
• Have I provided a list of transportation options? 
• Have I provided support sources if necessary (transportation, nutritious food sources, etc.)?
• Have I inquired about the nearest pharmacy or caretaker who can pick up medications?

How have I supported loved ones?

Examples:

• Have I incorporated family knowledge, values, beliefs, and cultural background into our care plan?
• Have I shared our care plan’s progress or challenges with family and caretakers and learned how involved they’d like to be in decision making?
• Have I provided research sources about my patient’s condition and treatment?
• Have I made family and caretakers feel confident in my knowledge and training?
• Have I shown compassion for their struggles? Referred them to social service providers if needed?