Which term best defines care that respects and responds to patient needs and preferences?

• A. Patient-Centered Care
• B. Licensing, Accreditation, Certification
• C. Lawsuits
• D. Malpractice

Answer: (A)

Patient-centered care is care that respects and responds to patient needs and preferences. It treats patients as active partners in decision making, listens to their concerns, andTailors choices to what matters most to them—values, culture, and goals guiding the plan of care. This approach boosts trust, satisfaction, and engagement, and it often improves adherence and outcomes because the care aligns with the individual’s priorities.

Licensing, accreditation, and certification describe processes to verify that providers and facilities meet predefined standards, ensuring overall quality and safety, but they do not define care that centers on the patient’s personal preferences.

Lawsuits involve legal action arising from disputes or alleged negligence and are not a description of a care approach.

Malpractice refers to professional negligence or failure to meet the standard of care; while it concerns quality and safety, it emphasizes outcomes related to negligence rather than the intentional, patient-focused way care is delivered.