Distinct enough? A national examination of Catholic hospital affiliation and patient perceptions of care

Abstract

Background Catholic hospitals play a critical role in the provision of health care in the United States; yet, empirical evidence of patient outcomes in these institutions is practically absent in the literature. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether patient perceptions of care are more favorable in Catholic hospitals as compared with non-Catholic hospitals in a national sample of hospitals. Methodology This cross-sectional secondary analysis used linked data from the 2008 American Hospital Association Annual Survey, the 2008 Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey, the 2008 Medicare Case Mix Index file, and the 2010 Religious Congregations and Membership Study. The study included over 3,400 hospitals nationwide, including 494 Catholic hospitals. Propensity score matching and ordinary least-squares regression models were used to examine the relationship between Catholic affiliation and various HCAHPS measures. Findings Our findings revealed that patients treated in Catholic hospitals appear to rate their hospital experience similar to patients treated in non-Catholic hospitals. Catholic hospitals maintain a very slight advantage above their non-Catholic peers on five HCAHPS measures related to nurse communication, receipt of discharge information, quietness of the room at night, overall rating, and recommendation of the hospital; yet, these differences were minimal. Practice Implications If the survival of Catholic health care services is contingent upon how its provision of care is distinct, administrators of Catholic hospitals must show differences more clearly. Given the great importance of Catholic hospitals to the health of millions of patients in the United States, this study provides Catholic hospitals with a set of targeted areas on which to focus improvement efforts, especially in light of current pay-for-performance initiatives.

Hospitals Known for Nursing Excellence Associated with Better Hospital Experience for Patients

“…Hospital Characteristics. Using data from the American Hospital Association annual survey, we measured hospital characteristics based on previous research suggesting an association of these characteristics with Magnet and patient outcomes (Aiken, Smith, and Lake 1994;Kutney-Lee et al 2013;McHugh et al 2013), including structural, ownership, financial, and geographic characteristics. Structural characteristics included number of beds; high technology status, which contrasted hospitals that performed major…”

“…Using data from the American Hospital Association annual survey, we measured hospital characteristics based on previous research suggesting an association of these characteristics with Magnet and patient outcomes (Aiken, Smith, and Lake ; Kutney‐Lee et al. ; McHugh et al. ), including structural, ownership, financial, and geographic characteristics.…”

Ethical arguments against coercing provider participation in MAiD (medical assistance in dying) in Ontario, Canada

“…Furthermore, individual palliative care providers (already in short supply) may stop accepting patients if they fear they may be compelled to violate their conscience rights [3], resulting in decreased overall provision of services. Similarly, faith-based institutions (especially Catholic hospitals and hospices) are motivated and likely irreplaceable providers of palliative care in Ontario and elsewhere [4,16]. They are often more likely to serve vulnerable populations and may even provide higher-quality and more patient-centered clinical care [17,18].…”

Challenges Facing The Performance of Catholic Healthcare Facilities in Tanzania: Insights From Turiani and Mikumi Hospitals in Morogoro

“…The comparison is rooted in specific elements like stewardship of resources, access to vulnerable populations, compassionate care and outpatient services (White et al, 2010). According to Kutney-Lee et al, (2014) "How Catholic healthcare compete in a growing market-oriented hospital environment remains a significant challenge, and one in which there is little empirical data to provide evidence of outcomes." A study by Thomson Reuters conducted in 255 hospital systems in United States involving four ownership categories (Catholic, other churches, investor-owned, not-for-profit) found that, Catholic operated hospitals had significant and better indicators of quality performance than investor owned institutions.…”

“…The theoretical and empirical review conducted shows that, although a great deal is known about healthcare organizational characteristics, less is known about how Catholic healthcare organizations differ empirically from other organizational ownership forms. (White, 2000, Kutney-Lee et al, 2014. In Tanzania, Catholic healthcare plays a critical role in the provision of healthcare yet the empirical evidence in these institutions is practically very minimal in literatures.…”