Person-centred care: A qualitative study on first line managers’ experiences on its implementation

Abstract

Person-centred care is an up-and-coming care model for reducing fragmentation in healthcare by using the core component partnership between patients and care providers. Therefore, it is important to develop knowledge of the implementation processes. The overall aim of this qualitative study was to describe managers’ experiences of the implementation of person-centred care. This paper provides an example of how person-centred care was implemented in the medical department of a hospital in the western part of Sweden. The study comprised eight interviews with first-line managers, and the data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The results formed three categories, structured approach – to be organized; care planning – to be continued and teamwork – to be together, that describe the implementation of person-centred care from philosophy to practice application. Managerial skills of first-line managers are key components to developing a structured approach that improves and develops person-centred care, i.e. work together towards the mutual care plan. Continuous cooperation within and across organizational boundaries is needed (synergy effect) to decrease high working load when person-centred care is implemented to improve quality of care.