Hospital groups propose HCAHPS modernization: 5 things to know 

Mackenzie Bean (Twitter) -

The HCAHPS survey must be modernized to better reflect changes in care delivery, healthcare technology and patient expectations, according to a report released July 25 by five major hospital groups.

The report was authored by leaders from the following groups:

  • Federation of American Hospitals
  • American Hospital Association
  • America's Essential Hospitals
  • Association of American Medical Colleges
  • Catholic Health Association of the United States

To compile the report, leaders interviewed hospital and health system patient experience leaders regarding their thoughts on the HCAHPS survey's effectiveness.

Five things to know:

1. Patient experience leaders said response rates have been falling annually for HCAHPS surveys. The report found the national response rate fell from 33 percent in 2008 to 26 percent in 2017.

2. Of the 27 core questions featured in the HCAHPS survey, patient experience leaders identified eight as important to keep. Leaders also shared five other topics that should be added to the survey, such as efficiency and clinical teamwork.

3. Most patient experience leaders said the survey should be adjusted to be more digestible for people with lower health literacy levels.

4. Leaders also said more research is needed to assess how social determinants of health may unfairly affect hospitals' HCAHPS scores.

5. The report outlines numerous recommendations to modernize the HCAHPS survey, including shortening the survey and offering patients a way to complete it online.

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