Patient-Centered Care

Patient-centered healthcare is focused on addressing the patient's desires, comfort, dignity, and trust. This concept views the dynamics between healthcare providers and the patient as a partnership that is centered on the patient's needs and empowers them at the same time. It is best practice for clinicians providing care to a pregnant woman and her family to practice patient-centered care.

Engaging all members of the community is important for increasing understanding of existing barriers and opportunities to improve a facility’s ability to provide patient-centered maternal care. Excellent communication skills, counseling skills, and an awareness of social context are the foundation of respectful maternity care.Care providers must be aware of how each patient's unique social context can impact their birth experiences, outcomes, and perinatal mood disorders. Maternity care should also be sensitive to the unique context of each rural community. Community-based doula programs, community health workers, and peer counselors can help overcome barriers to maternal healthcare, particularly in rural communities.