Patient-centered care:  A model of healthcare that is guided by the person receiving treatment, and takes into account their personal preferences, values, and needs during shared decision-making. 16 A quiet revolution has been taking place in healthcare within the past two decades. Medical institutions and professionals have slowly changed their approach to care, moving away from practices that left patients feeling unheard, and encouraging us to take an active part in our own treatment. Having multiple sclerosis generally means making greater use of healthcare services than a person without MS, especially in the year of diagnosis and in later years when the disease progresses. You probably see both a primary care physician and a treating neurologist regularly. Relapses may cause you to have more hospital stays than you might otherwise need. You may also see many specialists in the course of your disease, including urologists, neuro- psychologists, ophthalmologists, and physical, occupational, or speech therapists. Using healthcare more frequently naturally makes the quality of the care you receive of greater concern. In a 2001 report, the Institute of Medicine identified a “quality chasm” in American healthcare. The public was increasingly dissatisfied with the quality of care they received. Errors were compromising patient safety,unnecessarytreatments were being prescribed, and conversely, many people were not being given care they needed. The field of medicine had taken a wrong turn, and the report identified what needed to be done to get back on track: refocus healthcare on the patient. Patient-centered Care