Ask the expert: How should our hospitalist program measure patient satisfaction?

To provide physicians with critical patient satisfaction information, hospitalist programs should identify, measure, and collect the data that will be most useful. Although many hospitals turn to third-party organizations to help them develop systems for capturing patient satisfaction information, you can also design your own survey process.

The following are possible questions to include in your own survey that specifically focus on physician-to-patient communication:

• Did the hospitalist spend adequate time with you?
• Did the hospitalist display adequate concern for your condition/treatment?
• Was there sufficient time to ask the hospitalist questions and relay any worries?
• Did the hospitalist keep you informed throughout your hospital stay?
• Was the hospitalist courteous and considerate?
• Were you satisfied with the hospitalist’s manner of communication?
• Was the hospitalist available to meet with family members?

This week’s question and answer are adapted from Tools and Strategies for an Effective Hospitalist Program by Jeffrey Dichter, MD, FACP and Kenneth G. Simone, DO.