By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    UV damage to eyes
    Warning Signs of Long-Term UV Damage to Your Eyes
    December 9, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    The Ultimate Healthcare Recruiting and Staffing Guidebook
    March 21, 2022
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Important Medical Procedures for Those in Their 50s
    August 9, 2018
    Cause and Effect – What Leads to a Misdiagnosis?
    April 26, 2016
    The Unexplainable Benefits of Faith Healing in the 21st Century
    November 1, 2018
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Patient Partnerships and Patient Satisfaction: Are They the Same?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Patient Partnerships and Patient Satisfaction: Are They the Same?
BusinesseHealth

Patient Partnerships and Patient Satisfaction: Are They the Same?

docnieder
Last updated: May 6, 2014 8:11 am
docnieder
Share
4 Min Read
patient satisfaction survey
SHARE

If you had to deal with a “spousal satisfaction score” on a monthly basis, would this improve your interactions with your spouse? How about a “colleague satisfaction score”? Would you find it helpful to your psyche or would you resent your colleagues monthly critique? Increasingly this is how I feel about patient satisfaction surveys and physician rating sites. How much value are those instruments? An interesting a study from UC-Davis demonstrated an inverse relationship between patient satisfaction and good care.

If you had to deal with a “spousal satisfaction score” on a monthly basis, would this improve your interactions with your spouse? How about a “colleague satisfaction score”? Would you find it helpful to your psyche or would you resent your colleagues monthly critique? Increasingly this is how I feel about patient satisfaction surveys and physician rating sites. How much value are those instruments? An interesting a study from UC-Davis demonstrated an inverse relationship between patient satisfaction and good care. It makes sense, especially in an ER setting with hurried, relatively impersonal care, patients whose patient satisfaction surveyexpectations are not fulfilled will be unhappy. The classic example in my world is the patient who comes in with a viral upper respiratory infection insisting on a “Z-pack” antibiotic. Seriously, it still happens. Will they leave and go to Angie’s List and give me a bad grade? Did I do the right thing by refusing the antibiotic AND discussing why? Did I try at great length to help them understand the danger? Despite my explanation, were they still upset they didn’t get the med they wanted? Fortunately I am not yet discussing Press Ganey scores in the hospital lounge with my colleagues but we do offer a Target gift card to random patients who take a survey from my office.

Partnering with patients does not imply that we are always satisfied with each other, just as I am not always satisfied with my spouse’s behavior. We work together to improve healthy behaviors, we trust each other to find the best path and we compromise expectations by taking into account factors that impact health. If I am worried about satisfaction, it is easier to hand out that antibiotic script than spend time explaining why a viral illness doesn’t require one. Or give the patient that antidepressant she expects because the TV says she’ll feel better, instead of understanding the reasons behind unhappiness that doesn’t require medication.

In spending enough time with patients to hear their stories, see their body language and listen to the undercurrents in their lives–this might improve my satisfaction scores and ratings, but not necessarily. It will enable me to give the best care regardless of my score. This is my goal. Hopefully, no one will push me toward another.

More Read

Great News for Consumers from ONC: The Blue Button Continues to Deliver
Taking a Fresh Look at Disruptive Physician Conduct
Apple HealthKit: Epic Integration at Ochsner Health System
Three Biggest Pharmaceutical Lawsuits of 2012: Psychiatric Drugs Focus of All Three
The Adopt One! Challenge: The First Step to Better Patient Engagement and Patient Experiences

1. The cost of satisfaction: a national study of patient satisfaction, health care utilization, expenditures, and mortality. Fenton JJ; Jerant AF; Bertakis KD; Franks P. Arch Intern Med.  2012; 172(5):405-11 (ISSN: 1538-3679) http://www.medscape.com/medline/abstract/22331982

TAGGED:physician reviews
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

ID-10010630
BusinessFinance

Clarifying the ICD-10 Implementation Process

April 27, 2015
healthcare insurance industry customer service
BusinessNews

Health Insurance Industry Has Worst Customer Service – Survey Says

February 24, 2012
Digital Health the Future Of Healthcare
eHealthMobile Health

10 Digital Health Services That Could Shape The Future Of Healthcare

January 17, 2019

Salesmen in the Operating Room: Whose Best Interest Is at Stake?

April 19, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?