Researchers analyzed patient satisfaction ratings from 98 patient and 80 family surveys for heart attack patients for whom family was not necessarily present. Each of the care incidents required a hospital transfer from a rural or community hospital to Abbot Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn., to access specialized care, a journey of up to 200 miles.
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After recovery, 97 percent of patients and 99 percent of families felt the transfer was necessary, and 95 percent of patients and 88 percent of families thought the transfer had been well explained. In addition, 96 percent of patients understood the reason for transfer. All told, 15 percent of patients and 11 percent of families would rather have had the patient stay at the local healthcare facility.
“This study helps validate that the wishes of patients and their families are congruent with what we feel is the best medical care, despite circumstances that may be inconvenient,” said Jason T. Henry, a medical student and lead author of the report, in a news release.
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