Quality and Patient Experience
Data used in this report
Three sets of variables from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Hospital Compare database were examined to understand the quality of care with respect to patient experience, patient safety, and processes of care at the 23 study hospitals. This information is self-reported by hospitals that volunteer to submit their data for public reporting by HHS. [11]
Patient Experience Variables: The following variables were captured by HHS through the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS), a standardized survey given to a random sample of recently discharged hospital patients to gauge their perspectives on their hospital care. The variables represent discharge data from January 2011 to December 2011.
- Rate Hospital "Highly": "Patients who gave their hospital a rating of 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest)."
- Recommend Hospital: "The survey asked patients whether they would recommend the hospital to their friends and family."
- Pain Control: "If patients needed medicine for pain during their hospital stay, the survey asked how often their pain was well controlled" and whether "hospital staff did everything they could to help patients with their pain."
- Medicines Explained: "If patients were given medicine that they had not taken before, the survey asked how often staff... told what the medicine was for and what side effects it might have before they gave it to the patient."
- Information About Recovery: "Patients reported whether hospital staff had discussed the help they would need at home" and whether "they were given written information about symptoms or health problems to watch for during their recovery."
Patient Safety Variables: Hospital-reported rates per 1,000 patient discharges were gathered for the following variables that represent preventable complications or hospital-acquired conditions related to inpatient hospital care. The variables represent discharge data from July 2009 to June 2011.
- Severe Pressure Sores
- Falls and Injuries
- Blood Infection from Large Vein Catheter
- Infection from Urinary Catheter
- Signs of Uncontrolled Blood Sugar
Process of Care Variables: These measures of effective care were gathered for any patients for whom the recommended treatments would be appropriate. The data were extracted by each hospital from the medical records of their eligible patients and reported to HHS. Three variables regarding pneumonia management were assessed. The variables represent discharge data from January 2011 to December 2011, with the exception of the influenza vaccination rates, which were reported for October 2011 to December 2011.
- Pneumonia Vaccine: The percentage of appropriate pneumonia patients who were evaluated and given a pneumococcal vaccination.
- Influenza Vaccine: The percentage of appropriate pneumonia patients who were evaluated and given an influenza vaccination.
- Smoking Cessation Counseling: The percentage of appropriate pneumonia patients who were assessed and given smoking cessation advice or counseling.