In patient-centered care, which option is NOT aligned?

• A. Focus on condition and goals
• B. What’s the matter
• C. Episode of Care
• D. Compliance

Answer: (D)

At the heart of patient-centered care is partnering with the patient, honoring their values, preferences, and goals, and guiding decisions together across the entire care journey. Treating care as something to be done to or for the patient—relying on the idea of “compliance”—misses that partnership. It can dismiss the patient’s context, preferences, and reasons for or against certain actions, and it can undermine trust and autonomy by framing care as obedience rather than collaboration. A truly patient-centered approach asks, what matters to you, what are your goals, and how can we align medical decisions with your life and values, while supporting you across all stages of care. The other options fit this approach by emphasizing listening to the patient’s concerns, integrating medical goals with the patient’s personal aims, and ensuring continuity and coordination of care across episodes.