Chapter 6: Patient-centered care

With rise in life expectancy, as well as decreasing incidence of infectious diseases, chronic diseases have emerged focus areas in this new millennium. Existing methods to combat infectious diseases need to be modified to get the desired outcomes for chronic diseases. We also need to cater to issues like the rising cost of healthcare and expectations of better quality of life. Hence, it is necessary to find new models of care that suitably meet the needs of chronic patients. In this new model, patients and the ecosystem around them are vital pieces to consider for successful care provision. This chapter discusses the universe of chronic disease and telehealth, from the patients' perspective.