Advancing patient-centered care: moving from outcome-based to risk factor-based models using the big four risk factors
This article reimagines the health care system to focus on risk factors rather than outcomes in order to improve patient-centered care and reduce health care expenditure. Patient-centered care has been a global priority since 2001 when the Institute of Medicine declared it an essential aim for health care systems. As part of this discussion and to help facilitate this change, the concept of the big four risk factors – diet and nutrition; physical activity; smoking and tobacco use; and excessive alcohol consumption – is introduced in the context of the Americas from which it originates.