Importance of Patient Satisfaction

The world of healthcare has elevated patient satisfaction as a crucial element in the delivery of services. This is good news for patients, especially if you are preparing for surgery, or procedures and treatment.

Patient satisfaction is now linked to payment for services as health care moves from a fee-for-service reimbursement system to a pay-for-performance reimbursement system.

Your opinion counts and your experience in a clinic, hospital or ER will guide how those venues are reimbursed.

The quality of the services as determined by patient surveys about satisfaction is now a qualifier for payment. The best care gets the most money. There is even a 1.5% payment that hospitals can lose or gain from Medicare, based on patient surveys.

Some of the basics of patient satisfaction are common courtesy:

During an ER visit, keep the patient up-to-date
Knock before entering a room, sit down and focus on patient
Acknowledge a patient's feelings and concerns

More sophisticated satisfaction responses will come from the results of a procedure and how it turned out for you, the patient. Was nursing care good, was the room cleaned regularly, did you have any setbacks from poor care?

In the field of ear, nose and throat care, patient satisfaction is just as important as in the larger venues. Every aspect of care is examined to ensure that patients like you receive the best possible services. Now you can look into each clinic and physician before you schedule an appointment. They will be doing their best to satisfy your needs.