Question

What does HCAHPS stand for?  What is its purpose?  How might HCAHPS be useful to consumers as patients?  To providers such as hospitals? Can you think of additional aspects of care that should be similarly measured?

Answer 1

HCAHPS stands for 'Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems.'

It was developed to provide a standardized survey instrument and data collection method to measure the patient's views and opinions on hospital care.

HCAHPS represents the perception of the patients. Thus, the healthcare facility is obligated to consider the criticism of the consumers so that they can be rectified and improved upon. The better facilities and service would benefit every consumer admitted as a patient in that hospital.

As mentioned above, HCAHPS measures the voice of the consumers. Since the survey results are put on public display, it directly impacts the reputation of the organization. A positive response will increase the goodwill and subsequently the admits in that hospital, while a negative response will do the opposite.

There are other aspects of healthcare that need careful assessment with respect to severity of the disease. Cancer is among the most widespread diseases along with heart diseases. Thus, a hospital should also have a survey to understand if it is well equipped to deal with the deadliest and fatal of diseases. For example, it should have a survey to assess the quantity and quality of cancer and heart surgeons as well as the quality and quantity of device systems in the hospital to measure the same.