The healthcare landscape has been evolving rapidly in recent years, shaped by everything from consumerism to value-based payment models and disruptive new care options. To remain competitive and financially viable, hospitals can no longer merely provide good clinical care. They need to deliver care experiences that are customized around individual patients’ unique needs, values, and preferences.
Forces Driving the Need for Patient-Centricity
What factors make patient-focused care an urgent must-have rather than an optional extra, though? Some key influences are:
- Consumerism – Today’s patients typically shop and compare healthcare services just like they would any major consumer purchase. Hospital choice is driven by Google searches, review sites like Yelp, and word-of-mouth.
- Value-Based Care – As reimbursement models shift toward paying for value and outcomes rather than volume, delivering care optimized to the individual’s needs offers a more competitive edge.
- Disruptive Competition – Retail clinics, telehealth providers, mobile health apps, and