"Patient-centred care" is a popular term right now. Essentially, it means putting the patient at the centre of all decisions about their healthcare.

In the not so distant past, healthcare professionals used to make all of the decisions and simply "tell" the patient what to do. Instead, patient-centred care encourages the healthcare professional and the patient to work together to come to a shared decision.

This involves less talking and more listening in order to understand the patient's needs and wishes. Patient-centred care can be achieved by following these steps: