Patient Satisfaction Metrics

Learn Top Patient Satisfaction Metrics and How to Use Them

What are patient satisfaction scores and why do they matter?

Patient satisfaction scores are one of the most valuable tools for receiving information and feedback on a patient’s perception of their care. Some of the factors that we continually see playing a role in patient satisfaction include:

• Less waiting time to be seen
• Minimal redundancy in processes
• Quick answers to questions
• More quality time with the physician or APC
• Friendly team members who make them feel important
• Clean patient areas
• Clear communication and at-home care instructions.

Patient perception and satisfaction survey results should directly fuel changes or approaches to patient care and how it is delivered. Making changes might seem like an easy task, but many times simple solutions are overlooked.

Use these 7 fundamental tips to help improve patient satisfaction scores for individual clinicians and the emergency department (ED) overall.

What can I focus on to improve patient satisfaction scores?

• Introductions and Patient Communication
• Body Language
• Demeanor and Bedside Manner
• Being Realistic with Expectations of Time
• Respecting the Patient’s Wait Time
• Update, Update, Update
• Being Friendly

We’ll go into more detail for each of these patient satisfaction metrics below.

Tip #1: Introductions and Patient Communication

Each member of your team who is caring for the patient should introduce him or herself upon entering the patient room or tending to the patient in a fast-track area. This basic step makes the patient feel more comfortable with the team taking care of them.

Make sure to write the names of the team on the exam room whiteboard as a reminder, if available. If there isn’t a whiteboard in the room, be sure to use another communication tool to keep your patient informed (i.e. a passport).

Beyond clinician-patient introductions, focused patient communication is also key. Listen to the patient’s concerns, ask questions, do not rush your interactions, and be present. Patients are in the emergency department for a reason; make them feel respected and heard and you’ll help ease their concerns and fears.

Tip #2: Body Language

Most teams can benefit from studying non-verbal communication or body language and how it relates to patient perception and satisfaction.

Non-verbal cues can portray the level of interest a person has in communicating. There are four parts of body language to keep in mind when communicating with patients including body posturing, facial expressions, touch, and eye contact.

Body posturing is how you carry yourself. If a clinician walks into a room with hunched shoulders and shuffling feet, patients may be concerned the doctor or APC is tired, grumpy, or in a bad mood. If that same physician or APC walks in with his or her chin up and shoulders back with noticeable energy, a patient could assume he or she is in a good mood and ready to provide care.

Touch is important, as physical contact can immediately communicate a level of concern or affection with the patient and, as such, should be used sparingly and appropriately. Remember, always ask for consent and give instructions about what you are going to do before touching a patient. This step is very important and should be adhered to strictly.

Facial expressions can reveal how someone is feeling. We all often show thoughts on our faces without meaning to, so putting on the “patient face” when entering an exam room is important. Relaxed facial muscles and a smile when meeting someone can make a world of difference.

Avoid yawning, grimacing, or other expressions that could be perceived negatively. This can be coupled with eye contact. However, finding the right balance between eye contact and staring is important. You want the patient to feel listened to – not scrutinized.

Tip #3: Demeanor and Bedside Manner

Your demeanor is how you act and how your behavior is perceived. A poor bedside manner may cause anxiety or fear, leading to a poor clinician-patient relationship.

Demeanor and bedside manner convey that you are listening to the patient, validating their concerns, keeping the patient and family members informed, and treating them appropriately, respectfully, and professionally.

Be natural, but keep in mind that your demeanor has a very real effect on patients.

Tip #4: Be Realistic With Expectations of Time

Often, patients do not understand the emergency department, radiology, or other hospital department operations. This can impact their perception of how long wait times should be. Give patients accurate expectations of how long they may have to wait and provide an understanding of the next steps for patients and family members.

Telling the patient the wait will not be long or that they will be seen shortly may cause aggravation if the patient has to wait longer than expected.

Setting realistic expectations of time, giving a numeric range regarding waiting for test results, and approximate discharge time shows your patients you respect their time. If accurate time estimations are going to be longer than initially stated, check in with the patient, apologize for the wait, and update them on the reason for the additional wait.

Most complaints against clinicians are bundled up in a lack of communication, so make sure you’re keeping the patient updated. It’s a quick, simple thing to do for improving patient satisfaction.

Tip #5: Respect Their Wait Time

Going hand-in-hand with realistic expectations of time, clinicians and other department team members should be respectful with the patients waiting in the reception area and try their best to make the wait seem as short as possible.

Update patients and be sure to stock your waiting area with a TV, magazines, brochures, and other materials patients can point their attention to. If patients have something to do while waiting and are being updated routinely, they are less likely to be upset with longer wait times.

For patients waiting on lab results or radiology results, utilize patient tablets to allow access to information and entertainment while in the patient room or hall bed. Tablets, TVs or other electronic devices help pass the time and may take the mind off whatever is ailing the patient. Use technology to share healthy messages by loading informational health videos and apps including games and news features.

Tip #6: Update, Update, Update

As mentioned, the power of updating your patients routinely can help improve patient satisfaction in health care scores. Check on people waiting for test results, update on any delays or issues, and make communication a top priority. These will go a long way with your patients.

Patients need to feel as if they are a priority. Check on them and let them know their X-rays are being reviewed. This helps them feel involved and creates a better overall experience.

Keeping them in the loop allows the patients to see your face more and conveys compassion. It tells the patient that you are cognizant of their time spent in the emergency department and enhances provider and patient relationships as a whole.

Tip #7: Be Friendly

As simple and easy as this one may seem, bedside manner and a friendly atmosphere can drastically improve scores. No one wants to be seen by a grumpy, tired, or obviously distracted clinician.

Aim to treat every patient as you would your own family by being friendly, open, honest, and considerate at a time when they are potentially feeling vulnerable.

Looking for External Help?

If your clinical team is struggling with improving patient satisfaction scores, consider implementing a patient experience immersion program with your team to help reiterate the fundamentals of patient experience. We offer our hospital and health system partners the ApolloMD Commitment to Care program, among other patient experience programs.

The Commitment to Care program, is a 10-week program where our team of clinical operations experts help guide physician and advanced practice clinician teams with step-by-step instruction on how to improve patient satisfaction in health care.

The best thing about ApolloMD’s Commitment to Care program? Participants take the challenge and make it their own. This program can be tailored to the specific needs of a facility.

In addition, the program can be as broad or narrow as necessary with all levels of providers and administrators included in the challenge. The team aspect makes this initiative a success.

Whether you are looking for a patient experience program for an entire facility or one service within the ED, the Commitment to Care program is a tool that can help you build upon customer service and satisfaction.

Want to learn more about a partnership with ApolloMD? Contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!