HIV care settings across Canada are adopting a patient-centered model of care
08/27/2019
- Dr. Claire Kendall surveyed 12 HIV care settings across Canada to determine their effectiveness in adopting patient-centered approaches to care;
- She found that most care settings did well in four out of six key areas of implementation;
- The results of the survey point to a vital need for better electronic information systems and available patient resources to manage their own care.
In a recent study by Dr. Claire Kendall, of Bruyère and the
Living with HIV Innovation Team, she found that 12 HIV care settings across Canada are adopting a patient-centred model of care. This model can significantly improve the care of people living with HIV, especially as they live longer and simultaneously fight other illnesses related to aging.
There are many types of patient-centred approaches to health care delivery, but Dr. Kendall focused on the adoption of the Chronic Care Model—a model that has proven useful for people living with long-term illnesses and multiple illnesses at once. The hope is that it can also be helpful for people living with HIV, which is now considered a chronic illness.
Overall the surveyed settings met four out of six criteria for delivering patient-centred care through the Chronic Care Model. The study recommends improvement to their computerized information systems to help health teams be more proactive with their care. Settings also need to offer resources to patients so that they can better manage their health outside of formal care settings.