Person-Centered Care: What Does it Mean?

Accord is proud to be accredited in “Person-Centered Excellence” by the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL). But what exactly does this mean?

This is a four-year accreditation that is earned through implementing CQL’s person-centered practices and completing rigorous evaluations. CQL is among the highest-marks of achievement for healthcare organizations and institutions in the United States.

Person-centered care is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “empowering people to take charge of their own health rather than being passive recipients of services.” It is the principle that an individual and their loved ones should be actively involved in making decisions about their own care, and their views, input and experiences should be prioritized. With a person-centered approach, the type of care and/or support is personalized for each individual because they are more than a patient; they are a human being with unique interests, abilities, goals, and lifestyles. For example, Chanpraney Nhul receives support from Accord’s Employment program. His Employment consultant, Keith, has been giving Chanpraney guitar lessons because they both share a passion for music. Keith understands Chanpraney’s talents and interests and has personalized the service that he provides to empower them.

Chanpraney Nhul

Accord conducts voluntary Personal Outcome Measure (POM) interviews to determine whether each person that we support understands their rights, knows all of their options, and has access to the supports that they need, like Chanpraney.

As an organization accredited in person-centered excellence, Accord recognizes every person that we support as an individual worthy of living their greatest life.