In 2007, CMS started publishing star ratings on the web for healthcare consumers to review as part of their healthcare decision-making process. The application of those ratings now covers an array of hospital performance metrics including quality, safety, efficiency and patient experience. Every quarter, hospital star ratings are updated and published. 

From real-time communication updates to bedside interactions, hospitals and health systems are increasingly focused on enhancing personalization to drive patient experience improvements. 

Female emergency room patients are less likely to be prescribed pain medication, according to a study published Aug. 5 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

After implementing an "always on" feedback and employee rounding tool, Louisville, Ky.-based Norton Healthcare has raised satisfaction scores 15% in one year, closed gaps in communication, and re-engaged staff. 

In 2021, a provision under the 21st Century Cures Act granted patients immediate access to medical test results. Three years later, some members of the healthcare community are advocating for change, The Washington Post reported July 26.

Clinician leaders might want to enourage their teams to meet hospitalized patients at their eye level, according to a meta-analysis published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. 

Patient scheduling is one of the most crucial steps in healthcare delivery. Despite significant advances in healthcare technology, accurate and timely scheduling remains challenging, particularly when care transitions providers.

Patient experience measures are showing signs of rebounding after falling dramatically during the pandemic, and a few elements are entering the spotlight after having notable effects on hospital scores.

Nashville (Tenn.) General Hospital has launched a "no-wait ER" program that reduces the time patients wait to receive care to four or five minutes, wkrn.com reported July 8.

Healthcare organizations must prioritize the healthcare experience of Gen Z and millennial patients with "new intensity and rigor," Press Ganey wrote in a June 26 report. These generations have far less brand loyalty and significantly higher expectations for fast, convenient care compared to previous generations. 

The frequency of nurse rounding can significantly affect hospitals' patient experience performance, though preferences still vary by unit and patient type, according to a June 26 report from Press Ganey.

Cardiac surgery patients reported the highest patient experience scores of any specialty in 2023, according to a June 26 report from Press Ganey. 

Hospitals in Nevada have the highest patient experience scores of any state, according to a June 26 report from Press Ganey. 

The future of healthcare is shifting towards consumerism, with patients expecting convenience and personalized experiences.

For years, healthcare providers have witnessed explosive growth in the number of patients who are self-pay or on high-deductible health plans (HDHP). Even for those who have commercial insurance, the patient share of healthcare financial responsibility is increasing.

Dignity Health is now offering sensory kits for patients with autism spectrum disorder to use in its emergency departments across Southern California. 

Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is addressing community needs by taking primary care door to door, NPR reported June 11.

Healthcare has evolved from a fine-dining-like model to one that more closely resembles that of fast food; but fast-food medicine doesn't work, Mary Meyer, MD, an emergency physician and former director of emergency management for Oakland, Calif.-based Permanente Medical Group, wrote in an opinion piece posted June 2 on MedPage Today.

Timely and accurate diagnostic testing is important to improving health outcomes, reducing length of stay and minimizing costs. However, providers need to balance the benefits of testing with the risks of overtreatment and of focusing solely on individual patients.

As a first line of defense for many patient inquiries, call center staff can make or break the patient experience.