Introduction and Objective:
Recently in Western countries, a new approach to treatment and patient care, called personcentred care (PCC), has gained recognition. In Poland, this approach is not widely known despite its positive results demonstrated in terms of improving the quality of treatment, rehabilitation and care, as well as reducing costs. The aim of the study is presentation of the definition of PCC, and significant differences between diverse types of care, as well as indication of the fundamental routines of PCC.

Person-centreed care:
The fundamental element of PCC is seeing a patient in a broad context, not only through the prism of the illness, but above all perceiving this patient as a person with all capabilities and limitations. The word „patient” tends to objectify and reduce a person to a recipient of medical services. PCC means a departure from the model in which a patient is a passive subject of medical intervention, towards the model where a contractual agreement is made involving the patient as an active partner in own care and the decision-making process. Co-creation of a partnership between the patient, his/her family, and health care professionals is an essential element of PCC. This approach is based on three pillars: partnership, patient narration and documentation.

Summary:
Person-centred care can improve the quality of services provided by healthcare. This approach also presents significant potential in cost containment by better use of the patient›s resources and his/her social network, as well as by creating synergies with support proposed by the healthcare system.