The Relationship Between Patient Satisfaction With Hospitalization and Outcomes Up to 6 Months Post-Discharge in Cardiac Patients

Abstract

Little is known about the relationship between patient satisfaction with inpatient care and post-discharge outcomes. This study examined inpatient hospital satisfaction after a cardiac event and outcomes through 6 months post-discharge. We examined 327 cardiac patients from the Bridging the Discharge Gap Effectively database who completed a patient satisfaction survey about their hospital admission and had post-discharge outcomes data. Higher patient satisfaction with the discharge process correlated with fewer readmissions at 90 days post-discharge. Higher patient satisfaction with hospital staff management of personal issues correlated with fewer emergency department visits at 6 months post-discharge. Higher patient satisfaction with overall assessment of care and hospitalization correlated with lower mortality rate at 6 months post-discharge. Being nonwhite correlated with lower nursing care satisfaction. Associations between cardiac patient satisfaction and outcomes exist. In this population, higher patient satisfaction correlated with better outcomes. Patient satisfaction data may be able to inform areas for health system improvement.

Sex Differences in the Care Experiences of Patients Hospitalized Due to Ischemic Heart Disease in Alberta, Canada

“…recently demonstrated that greater patient satisfaction was correlated with lower mortality at 6 months postdischarge in a sample of 327 cardiac patients. 42 …”

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Improving the Pediatric Discharge Process

“…Improvement with patient satisfaction and experience throughout the discharge process is an integral strategy for reducing hospital readmissions 4,8. Hospital systems that have higher patient satisfaction and experience with the discharge process have positive health outcomes and fewer readmissions 4,8.…”

Patient Perspectives of the Hospital Discharge Process: A Qualitative Study

“…Care transitions after hospitalization are complex processes that require coordination of care and communication across multiple interdisciplinary care teams, patients, and caregivers. The high frequency of adverse events postdischarge, including avoidable readmissions 1 ‐ 4 and high prevalence of patient and caregiver distress during this time, signal persistent and important gaps in quality and safety. 5 , 6 One measure of the quality of care transitions is patient satisfaction ratings, which are systematically tracked as part of the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey.…”