As the calendar turns to 2025, the biggest changes are coming to the HCAHPS survey since the advent of the national patient experience measurement system in 2006.

In clinical handoffs, biased language can hinder empathy and negatively affect clinicians' ability to recall patient health information, according to a study published Dec. 17 in JAMA. 

Children's Hospital Los Angeles is using virtual reality to improve patient experience during procedures and reduce medication used. Here are five things to know:

A Physician-Led Approach for Integrating NPs and PAs into High-Quality Care There is a recognized physician shortage across the United States – a situation that has only been exacerbated by post-pandemic attrition, broad economic challenges, Medicare reimbursement issues, and more. Even if there were enough physicians, their geographic distribution would likely not match patient demand.

As competition increases and patient expectations change, hospitals are leaning on new — and reinvigorating old — methods to improve care experiences.

Care delivery is like an orchestra playing a symphony. One wrong note from a single musician can mar harmony, creating dissonance in its stead.

Nurse-led interventions led to better sleep experiences for inpatients at St. Louis-based Barnes-Jewish Hospital, according to a study published Dec. 4 in JAMA Network Open.

Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare has partnered with the American School for the Deaf to improve the care experience for patients who are deaf and hard of hearing. 

Self-scheduling has redefined patient access, moving beyond convenience to become a competitive advantage. It allows patients to book, reschedule, and manage appointments on their own terms, meeting the growing demand for flexibility in healthcare. In 2025, self-scheduling will merely be a baseline expectation, and organizations that implement it are better positioned to attract new patients, improve retention, and streamline operations.

There is growing curiosity about the time-consuming nature of healthcare, with researchers more closely examining time spent in appointments as a so-called burden of treatment.

Systems are honing in on improving the patient experience by reducing complexity, enhancing personalizations and making patients feel valued throughout the care journey, the American Hospital Association said in a Nov. 12 article.

The American Hospital Association expressed support for the use of healthcare navigators by hospitals and health systems to help patients find, access and understand financial assistance programs designed to pay for healthcare services, according to a Nov. 11 letter to CMS. 

A recent study found that high stress levels in parents of hospitalized children were linked to perceived miscommunication from clinicians.

Gone are the days of using single or periodic glucose readings to manage diabetes.

AI-driven automation and workflow optimization to ease pressures on staff were major themes during an executive roundtable sponsored by RevSpring at Becker's 9th Annual Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Conference. 

Mobile technology is crucial for health systems to stay competitive, but the many choices and options to build or buy apps can make for a tricky process.

The benefits of early detection are clear: The earlier that cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chance of successful treatment and survival for the patient,1,2 and the more directed and efficient care delivery is for the health system. While health system leaders recognize the tremendous value of early cancer detection, many are unsure of how to launch multi-cancer early detection (MCED) testing programs, and integrate those programs into existing workflows at their organizations.

Seventy-four percent of older adults say they have little to no trust in health information generated by AI, according to a University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.

Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine, in collaboration with  students at the University of Pennsylvania, has developed a virtual reality experience aimed at reducing fear and anxiety related to patient radiation.

Patients' health behaviors can be heavily influenced by publicly available information and the level of trust they have in that information.