Hospital associations: HCAHPS survey needs updates

The patient experience survey required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for all U.S. hospitals needs modernizing, according to a paper released today by the AHA and other national hospital associations, citing falling response rates after 10 years in the field and incomplete topic coverage. “It is time to re-think the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems to ensure it is capturing information on critical aspects of care as it is delivered today and that patients can choose to provide their responses in the way that is most convenient for them,” said Robyn Begley, AHA chief nursing officer and CEO for its American Organization for Nursing Leadership, at a briefing today on the report. Co-authored by the AHA, Federation of American Hospitals, America's Essential Hospitals, the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Catholic Health Association of the United States, the report’s recommendations include shortening the survey, adding language options and creating a digital avenue for patients to respond, instead of the current methods via phone and mail.