Which does NOT belong in patient-centered features?

• A. Care Coordination
• B. Enhanced Access to Care
• C. Quality and Safety Emphasis
• D. Reducing Patient Choice

Answer: (D)

Patient-centered care focuses on tailoring healthcare to the individual, honoring their preferences, improving access, coordinating care across settings, and keeping quality and safety at the forefront.

Care coordination aligns with this by ensuring that information and actions are connected across providers and settings, reducing fragmentation and making the patient’s experience smoother. Enhanced access to care supports the patient’s ability to obtain timely services, which is crucial for engagement and informed decision-making. Emphasizing quality and safety ensures care is effective, minimizes harm, and respects the patient’s values throughout the care process.

Reducing patient choice, however, runs counter to this approach. Limiting options and withholding opportunities for patients to select among treatments or care pathways diminishes autonomy and shared decision-making, which are fundamental to patient-centered care.