Being present begins by cultivating a mindset and physical space where human-centered care can flourish.

Professionals who are present express confidence and empathy through body language and eye contact. They stay in the moment and avoid lingering in the past activity or anticipating the next.

Being present challenges providers to communicate with immediacy, letting patients know that they are the first priority.

Every patient is unique, complex, and nuanced. Engaging the whole person means being inquisitive, open-minded, empathetic and non-judgmental. 

Meaningful engagement explores what’s important to each patient as a person, beyond the scope of care. It involves listening for emotional cues, expressing compassion and being mindful of biases that might limit connection.

Powerful communication sits at the heart of human-centered care.

Communicating to build trust starts with active listening, followed by effective and timely questions. It means communicating as an open-minded, trusted partner, while maintaining a role as expert and guide.

It also means establishing and verbalizing common goals and measures of success. Always, it's about empowering patients and cheering them on.

Critical thinking demands professionals think logically and objectively, analyzing and evaluating information to make informed decisions.

Creative thinking requires them to step back and open their sphere of thought, generating new ideas and alternatives to existing modes of operation.

Delivering human-centered care in the context of today’s complex health care teams requires that professionals develop and effectively combine critical and creative thinking skills.

Human-centered care isn’t about searching for, or pushing perfect solutions. Professionals who negotiate with reality operate within the actuality of each patient’s lifestyle, values, motivations and goals.

It requires both critical and creative thinking. It means generating awareness, offering choices, and remaining pragmatic. It demands humility, honouring each patient’s expertise regarding their own needs.

Human-centered care demands engagement across the entire healthcare team. Teamwork is paramount. It begins with a genuine commitment to problem solving, understanding and respecting what each team member offers.

It's goal-oriented, championing positive change, yet creates a safe space for expression. It requires diplomacy, especially when conflicting advice arises. It's mindful of groupthink and challenges the status quo when needed. Always, it maintains unity in the eyes of the patient.