Commentary: patient-centered care, the sine qua non of collaborative medicine.

Full Abstract

Collaborative medicine requires practitioners and disciplines with varied training and philosophies to work together toward a common clinical goal. Distinct differences between the various practitioners and disciplines can serve as both opportunities for synergy and barriers to collaboration. There must be a clear and compelling reason that motivates different practitioners and disciplines to do the hard work needed to overcome barriers to collaboration. Patient-centered care is the compelling reason, the defining characteristic that must underlie all collaborative medicine efforts. The practical application of this principle is illustrated by the experience of a large health care system (Catholic Health Initiatives). From a complexity theory standpoint, patient-centered care and collaboration can be thought of as simple rules that guide desirable behaviors in a complex system. The application of these two simple rules is as relevant in the microcosm of collaborative medicine as it is in the larger macrocosm of health care.

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Author information

Author/s: Hammerly, Milt (M);

Affiliation: Catholic Health Initiatives, 2525 S. Downing 12-L, Denver, CO 80210, USA. milthammerly(-atsign-)chi-national.org

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: American journal of medical quality : the official journal of the American College of Medical Quality (Am J Med Qual), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2002 Jan-Feb; vol 17 (issue 1) : pp 33-8

Dates: Created 2002/02/20; Completed 2002/03/15; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 11852676, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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