title: With patient satisfaction under increasing scrutiny, consider patient callbacks.
abstract: Under the final rules for Medicare's value-based purchasing program, one-third of the funding that is set aside to reward quality will be based on how patients rate their hospital experience. However, some EDs are already working to maximize patient satisfaction by implementing programs or policies whereby patients who have been discharged are routinely called to make sure their recovery is going well, as well as to intervene if there is an opportunity for service recovery. There are benefits to having ED clinicians make the follow-up calls themselves, but some health care organizations are also reaping benefits by having non-clinicians collect feedback on individual clinicians as well as specific facilities. In addition to potentially boosting quality and customer service, experts say callbacks are useful in curbing malpractice litigation. To avoid pushback among staff, consider beginning a program of patient callbacks by asking clinicians to call back just two patients per shift worked, and to share their experiences with colleagues. For maximum value, experts recommend that patient callbacks be made within one to four days of discharge.
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013689:Telephone; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014481:United States