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care collaborate connect
What is consumer-centred healthcare?
Consumer-centred healthcare is a paradigm shift in health services. It delivers care that caters to the unique and diverse needs of each person seeking help for their health or wellbeing.
Consumer-centred healthcare recognises that people are not an illness or disorder and that illness is embedded within a broader biological, social, and psychological context.
This holistic perspective guides the development and delivery of healthcare that truly supports health and wellbeing.
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Why is there is a need to focus on consumer-centred healthcare?
Traditional healthcare has long been centred around providers, where clinicians manage disease or disorders rather than collaborating with and supporting healthcare consumers.
Often in healthcare, people asking for help with their health or wellbeing are referred to as “client” or “patient” implying a possessive relationship with the healthcare provider, that is, my client, my patient, which affects the power dynamic and the way healthcare is delivered.
These problems can lead to misdiagnosis, mistreatment, and harm.
Care Collaborate Connect
That’s why we developed and offer consumer-centred training. We’re committed to helping develop a community of care to optimise health and wellbeing, for everyone.
We teach helpers to put the needs of the person they’re helping first and support people rather than a collection of symptoms.
We teach helpers that care is a support role, not a management role.
Benefits of consumer-centred care
- It’s personalized and tailored to your individual needs.
- It’s holistic and takes into account your physical, social, and wellbeing needs.
- It’s coordinated and ensures that each person receives the care they need, when they need it.
- It’s respectful and humble.
- It leads to better care experiences and treatment outcomes.
How do I recognise consumer-centred care?
- Look for the Care endorsement logo. Healthcare providers using the Care Logo have learnt how to provide consumer-centred healthcare.
- Look at the service website. Is it easy for you to know what problems the service can help with, how you make contact, what’s involved in seeking care, and what are the direct and indirect costs of seeking care?
- When you attended the service, were you treated with respect, made to feel comfortable, supported, and listened to and understood?
- Did the service consider your overall health and wellbeing when treating a particular problem and considering treatment options?
- Did the service care about how you were coping?
- Were your needs met attending the service?
- Would you recommend this service to people you care about?
Care endorsement
The Care logo helps you identify healthcare providers trained to support people when they’re upset without causing harm.