Association between hospital performance and surgical quality

Editor's Note

In this study, researchers found a significant association between patient satisfaction scores and surgical quality measures.

Of 180 hospitals, the overall mean patient satisfaction score was 68% (lowest quartile, 59%; highest quartile, 77%). Patients treated in hospitals in the highest quartile had significantly lower risks of death, failure to rescue, and minor complications.

No significant association was found between patient satisfaction and major complications or hospital readmissions. 

Importance The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services include patient experience as a core component of its Value-Based Purchasing program, which ties financial incentives to hospital performance on a range of quality measures. However, it remains unclear whether patient satisfaction is an accurate marker of high-quality surgical care.