Patient satisfaction is a key component to how high a hospital or medical office is rated, but at what cost? First implemented in October 2012, the Affordable Care Act included a policy that stated 1 percent of total Medicare reimbursements – adding up to about $850 million – from hospitals would be withheld. The only way for hospitals to earn this money back is through high patient satisfaction scores and certain base care standards. Furthermore, the top performers will receive bonus money taken from the pool. This raises the question of whether hospitals are placing too much importance on patient satisfaction instead of actual health and wellness. That being said, many hospitals and medical personnel are walking a thin line between offering great bedside manner and taking away from patient health, which in turn means people’s lives are at risk. While it is true that all patients should be treated with professionalism and respect, if patient’s wellness is suffering as a result, we have a problem.
The solution to this growing problem seems simple: hire more nurses and promote a more highly trained nursing staff instead of simply encouraging the current personnel to turn on the charm to ensure patients leave satisfied, but not necessarily well. Nearly every question on patient satisfaction surveys involved nurses, which is something to pay attention to. If hospitals, like some, continue to force their nursing staff to undergo unnecessary non-medical training in order to ensure patients leave the hospital happy, we will continue to see an increase in preventable patient deaths.
Why Hospitals are Obsessed With Patient Satisfaction
Why Hospitals are Obsessed With Patient SatisfactionA national study was recently conducted that revealed patients who were most satisfied with their medical care actually had higher bills and prescription costs, and they were far more likely to be hospitalized than those who weren’t over the moon about the care they received. Furthermore, the satisfied patients were at a significantly higher risk to die within the next four years than those who were unsatisfied. If you are shocked by these findings, you aren’t alone. This growing trend of focusing on what patients want and how they perceive the care they received may mean that they are getting less of what they actually need, which is a scary thought. In the same category as medical malpractice suits, this move towards patient satisfaction in place of adequate care will eventually lead to lawsuits, but not before more patients die at the hands of supposed trusted medical professionals.
Hospitals are focusing on smiles over substance, and in turn catering to patient’s wishes rather than providing them with the care they actually need. This can only spell trouble for the future of the healthcare industry and it’s safe to say we are bound to see an increase in medical malpractice lawsuits brought against hospitals, nursing staff, and doctors. There is a tremendous sense of lack of control and responsibility among the powerful corporate companies that run hospitals, which is one of the biggest problems with this system and why we are seeing higher patient death rates. In order to stop this problem before it gets even worse, we need to shift the focus to training nurses and medical staff to offer the highest quality of care possible. Patient satisfaction shouldn’t have to suffer as a result, but there should be less emphasis on how happy a patient leaves the hospital, and instead consider how well they are.
If you or a loved one has received inadequate care from a hospital or medical clinic and as a result sustained an serious injury or even death, contact Wormington & Bollinger today. Our talented team of medical malpractice lawyers will go over your case and determine whether or not you can pursue legal action against those responsible.