title: Quality improvement and the hospital patient representative.
abstract: A national survey of hospital patient representatives was conducted. This study sought to identify and analyse basic demographic and occupational data of patient representatives. An analysis of the patient representatives' perceived roles in the hospital is also conducted. A total of 387 randomly selected United States hospitals were surveyed with a response rate of 66% (256 hospitals). We were able to use only 172 'usable' responses. Of those who responded, we found the typical patient representative to be a female aged 30-50 years old, married with a college degree, and about 6 years of experience from a northeast hospital. In general, the majority of the respondents were very positive of their role in the liaison activity between the patient and the administration.
authors.affiliation: Harris Methodist Health Plan, Ft Worth, Texas.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: al-Assaf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D015285:Hospital-Patient Relations; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012380:Role; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States