Patient-centered care fosters safety: Study

Hospitals that put patients first foster a safer patient care environment, and safer hospitals have more satisfied patients, according to a study released by the Leapfrog Group and Press Ganey Associates.

The study also found that hospitals that measure patient satisfaction with Press Ganey score better on Leapfrog's quality and safety measures, and that hospitals willing to report to Leapfrog's public survey generate more satisfied patients.

For example, hospitals that use Press Ganey to measure patient satisfaction are more likely to achieve scores of "good progress" or "fully implemented" for computerized physician order entry and intensive care unit staffing with intensivists, two of the patient safety practices recommended by Leapfrog.

"It is no surprise that hospitals that regularly measure patient satisfaction perform better on Leapfrog's survey. Finding that hospitals that report to the Leapfrog survey also have higher patient satisfaction shows that their commitment to quality and patient safety has benefits that are observable by patients," said Catherine Eikel, director of programs at Washington-based Leapfrog.

Based in South Bend, Ind., Press Ganey Associates is a leading provider of health care industry satisfaction measurement and improvement services.

The Leapfrog Group is a voluntary program whose primary objective is to focus employer purchasing power to recognize and reward the nation's health care providers for achieving "big leaps" in health care safety, quality and customer value.