Which statement best reflects patient-centered care?

• A. Focus on reducing costs above all else.
• B. Center plans around the patient’s values, preferences, and needs; shared decision-making; empathy.
• C. Prioritize clinician comfort in discussing options.
• D. Provide treatment without explanation.

Answer: (B)

Patient-centered care means shaping all decisions around what matters most to the patient—their values, preferences, and needs—and doing so through shared decision-making and genuine empathy. This approach respects the patient’s autonomy and fosters trust, making care more collaborative and tailored to the individual.

Focusing on costs above all else misses the patient’s personal goals and treatment priorities. Prioritizing clinician comfort in discussing options shifts the emphasis away from the patient’s experience and choices. Providing treatment without explaining it undermines informed consent and the trust foundational to effective care. Hence, centering plans around the patient and actively engaging them through empathy and collaboration best reflects patient-centered care.