Poster can be found in location 131.

Being a good doctor does not only require thorough specialization and constant updating of scientific knowledge; it also means listening to your patients’ needs. The concept of a patient-centered care is constantly gaining ground. The key element of the patient-centered care is patient being involved in the decision-making. There is often a confusion in understanding the difference between shared decision-making, self-management, and an individualized treatment plan. These topics are becoming even more confusing or difficult to manage in some specific areas like rare diseases where many times the patient is the expert himself. Patients with chronic health problems and with limited or no access to the healthcare system, spend a lot of personal time self-managing their symptoms. The failure to recognize and satisfy these needs, decreases health care resources and lead to poor outcomes, because these individuals will have a longer and more financially demanding patient journey with increase private spending and poor healthcare outcomes. What is known in rare diseases as the patients notify, is the odyssey-journey to the final diagnosis. EVERY PATIENT IS UNIQUE! Every patient needs his own time (personalization). The answers the patient needs are to be adapted to his level of knowledge, cognitive and social background to personal care issues. Self-care and participatory decision-making, in a patient-centered care context, are mutually supportive practices that can maximize the results of a therapeutic intervention. Positive effects on disease outcomes can be improved when health professionals give the patient an active role in their health care. In conclusion, the term “Patient-centered care” is used to equity and the democratize the access to care. The concept remains far away from the daily clinical practice. Therefore, the state, doctors, and patients alike should work to make this concept implemented and included in everyday healthcare.