A recent survey of more than 65,000 patients from 500 primary care practices suggests physicians in Massachusetts could be doing more to improve the patient experience and boost behavioral health efforts.
Massachusetts Health Quality Partners conducted the study, which is estimated to represent roughly 4,000 physicians across the state.
Highlighted below are three things to know from the survey:
1. The statewide behavioral health mean score* increased from 53.1 in 2014 to 56.5 in 2015. Although the results show an improvement, there is still "substantial room for improvement" in several behavioral health measures. Among the behavioral health practices with statistically significant improvement, the increases ranged from 12 points to greater than 20 points.
2. The 2015 survey added a new measure — called supporting self-management — to find out whether primary care providers talked with patients about the patients' goals for health, or if there are barriers that make it difficult to remain healthy. The mean score for all practices across the state was 54 for adult practices and 43.6 for pediatric practices.
3. Overall, most primary care physicians across the state excel in communicating with their patients, with a mean score for all practices across the state of 93.5. Other areas with strong statewide mean scores include integration of care, knowledge of the patient and office staff interaction.
*The behavioral health mean score was calculated using the survey results regarding whether physicians asked patients about feeling depressed, feeling stressed or experiencing problems with alcohol, drugs or a mental or emotional illness.