The healthcare industry has become a major service industry, especially in this time of global pandemic, where many healthcare systems have focused on improving their care and understanding patient satisfaction.
Today the patients see themselves as a purchaser of healthcare services. Once this concept is accepted, it is necessary to recognize that every patient has certain rights, which places a special emphasis on the provision of quality healthcare.
Let’s learn how to provide better patient satisfaction and deliver better healthcare.
What is patient satisfaction?
Patient satisfaction is a type of customer satisfaction and an important and commonly used indicator to measure the quality of healthcare survey. It influences clinical outcomes, patient retention and medical malpractice claims. It affects timely, efficient and patient-centered delivery.
Patient satisfaction is therefore a representative but very effective indicator for measuring physician and hospital success.
Patient satisfaction is determined depending on the positive evaluation that the patient makes of the different areas of medical care received.
The importance of the given rating stands out for several reasons:
- They allow a better understanding of the way in which patients perceive hospital practices, administrative aspects and treatment modalities.
- They allow the implementation of best practices for better results from an external perspective.
- The levels of satisfaction are directly linked to the community and its use of the service, becoming an indicator of quality and high competitiveness in the market. This is reflected in the image of the institution.
Patient satisfaction is a mixed and complex variable that has been studied within the social and health sciences. Research in recent years has been aimed at solving the obstacles identified with evaluations.
Some researchers, however, recognize that the assessment made by the patient predominantly involves dimensions of an organizational nature.
How to measure the satisfaction of the patient?
In-depth demographics and market research always leads to a better understanding of patients, their healthcare needs and expectations.
The data you collect, for example through patient satisfaction surveys, can be used to create effective strategies that lead to higher quality services in the healthcare sector.
QuestionPro can accurately collect data and capture a patient’s status over time. Or create a more interactive survey where patients can pinpoint the parts of the body where they feel pain, and the degree of intensity, using the Homunculus question.
The tool has a number of functions that help measure the service offered in healthcare facilities, for example:
- Demographics-related questions.
- Tracking of medications that the patient is currently taking or has taken in the past
- Medical history questionnaire
- Procedures the patient has undergone
- Monitoring and follow-up of contacts by COVID-19
- Online health status assessment
As a healthcare facility, it is also important to know what the competition is doing. Using QuestionPro’s advanced features will help you better understand your customers and competitors. Here are some of them:
- Sentiment Analysis
A powerful feature for competitive analysis, marketing analysis and unfavorable rumor detection for risk management. This will help track what your patients are saying about your product/service.
- Conjoint Analysis
Measures how people make decisions based on certain characteristics of a product or service. It deciphers the selection behavior of healthcare services, and predicts the performance of your service in the market.
- Trend analysis
Trend analysis is another advanced feature that allows you to plot response data over time. This will help to detect patterns in survey responses that could lead to future quality problems, and to forecast future periods of patient demand.
Through these functions it will be easy to create high quality market research reports on your competitors, know patient expectations and satisfaction, what the market offering is and how it may change over time.
Advantages of knowing the level of patient satisfaction
Satisfaction and feedback surveys help gather information about patient satisfaction, resulting in better communication with physicians, administrators, providers and more.
These are other benefits of measuring patient satisfaction:
- Patient satisfaction leads to customer (patient) loyalty.
- Improves patient retention.
- Organizations with high patient loyalty can command a higher price.
- Losing patients to dissatisfaction generates less revenue. Hence the importance of applying a health survey to improve the healthcare experience.
- Increased staff morale, by avoiding employee turnover, also leads to increased productivity.
- Good patient satisfaction avoids the risk of malpractice claims.
- Increased staff satisfaction, when sick people get better.
- The results of a patient survey will provide a complete understanding of critical factors that can be both negative and positive, which in turn will help make important decisions about the care provided.
What factors can affect patient satisfaction?
Let’s rewind a bit. Patient satisfaction starts way before you even set foot in a doctor’s office. It begins with choosing a healthcare provider that plays nice with your insurance and extends to checking out the state of the facilities and estimating how long you’ll twiddle your thumbs in the waiting room. Every little thing in a hospital or doctor’s office can sway how satisfied you are.
But the real thing, the key factor, is the communication between you and your doctor. The way they talk to you and the attitude of the staff are the big players here. They’re the rockstars that set the stage for what you can expect from the whole medical service. So, it’s not just about fixing health issues—it’s about creating a smooth experience for the patients.
How can you measure patient satisfaction?
Measuring the intangible—patient satisfaction—requires a methodical approach. Surveys stand out as a versatile means to capture the little nuggets on patient satisfaction. These instruments covers the essential aspects of the patient journey, ranging from the effectiveness of communication with healthcare providers to the responsiveness of hospital staff and the overall environment’s cleanliness and tranquility.
As robust assessment tools, surveys play a crucial role in shaping healthcare policies and practices. Insights derived from survey responses inform strategic decisions, fostering a culture of continuous improvement in healthcare services. The transparency afforded by surveys allows healthcare providers to not only understand patient perspectives but also to proactively address areas that requires improvement.
You can use the HCAHPS survey is a standardized instrument crafted to gauge patients’ perspectives on hospital care. It delves into crucial aspects of the patient experience, ranging from communication with healthcare providers and the responsiveness of hospital staff to the cleanliness and quietness of the environment. It’s a comprehensive evaluation that encapsulates the essence of what contributes to patient contentment.
What can you do to improve patient satisfaction
The best strategies are the ones based on insights gathered from the people actually receiving the healthcare service. But since this is the ideal, some other strategies that can be applied are the following:
- Set Clear Expectations: Effective communication starts before the first handshake. Setting clear expectations lays the groundwork for a positive patient experience. From the initial appointment scheduling to outlining the steps of a procedure, transparency is key. Patients should have a roadmap of what to expect at every juncture, minimizing uncertainty and fostering a sense of control. Whether it’s detailing wait times or explaining potential outcomes, clarity in communication becomes a cornerstone for elevating satisfaction.
- Emphasize Communication: Communication isn’t just about words; it’s a dynamic exchange that builds trust. Healthcare providers must cultivate a culture of open and empathetic communication. This involves active listening to patients’ concerns, answering questions comprehensively, and using understandable language devoid of jargon. Regular check-ins, both during and after treatment, showcase genuine concern for the patient’s well-being. In an era where patients are informed and engaged, robust communication becomes a linchpin in forging lasting doctor-patient relationships.
- Prioritize Punctuality: In the world of healthcare, time matters…a lot. Respect for patients’ time is a tangible expression of their value. Consistently adhering to appointment schedules communicates professionalism and consideration. Minimizing wait times not only reduces patient frustration but also contributes to a more efficient and harmonious healthcare environment. Punctuality, in essence, is a silent gesture that speaks volumes about the provider’s commitment to delivering quality care.
- Be Responsive: Responsiveness extends beyond the confines of the clinic or hospital walls. Acknowledging inquiries promptly, whether through phone calls, emails, or patient portals, fosters a sense of accessibility. Patients want to feel heard and attended to, especially in moments of uncertainty. Quick responses to queries, test results, or concerns demonstrate a commitment to patient well-being. In a digitally connected age, being responsive transcends a mere courtesy—it’s a strategic imperative for fortifying patient satisfaction.
Each survey will provide actionable information, allowing you to quickly identify potential problems and improve the quality of care. If you want to know how satisfied your patients are, QuestionPro can help.
