Measuring patient satisfaction is complicated, as the patient experience is multi-faceted and challenging to classify, much less gauge. 

Measuring patient satisfaction is complicated, as the patient experience is
 multi-faceted and challenging to classify, much less gauge. However, across
 the industry, healthcare leaders, providers, regulators, and patients agree
 that the patient experience is a critical component of high-quality care.
 Here, we will look at why the patient experience is so important, how it is
 currently measured and defined, and how hiring locum tenens physicians and
 advanced practice providers can help you improve your patients&rsquo;
 experience &ndash; and ultimately, your bottom line.


<h2>Why is patient experience so important?</h2>


 Patient experience matters. Research shows that when patients are satisfied,
 they are more
 <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19584762"
 >compliant with treatment</a
 >, more
 <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5513653/"
 >focused on healing</a
 >, and less likely to
 <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16194644"
 >file malpractice suits</a
 >. Further, we can presume that satisfied patients will be more apt to return
 for care, to draw in family and friends, and to post positive reviews online,
 bolstering the reputation of their providers, practice, and overall healthcare
 system.



 Patient experience has been deemed so critical that it comprises one arm of
 the Institute for Healthcare Improvement&rsquo;s (IHI)
 <a href="http://www.ihi.org/Engage/Initiatives/TripleAim/Pages/default.aspx"
 >Triple Aim</a
 >
 of &ldquo;improving the patient experience of care (including quality and
 satisfaction); improving the health of populations; and reducing the per
 capita cost of health care.&rdquo; These three aims have been considered
 <a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.27.3.759"
 >interdependent</a
 >, and failing to focus on all three can lead to less than optimal outcomes.


<h2>Measures of patient experience</h2>


 As for categorizing and quantifying patient experience, the Hospital Consumer
 Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey has been
 designed to measure patient perception of care and is also used for CMS
 reimbursement, which can significantly impact a facility&rsquo;s finances.
 We&rsquo;ve considered HCAHPS measures and
 <a
 href="http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-21-2016/No1-Jan-2016/The-Patient-Experience-and-Patient-Satisfaction.html"
 >additional measures of patient experience</a
 >
 to demonstrate how adding locums providers to your staff can help improve
 patient satisfaction, which can ultimately contribute to fulfilling the Triple
 Aim and to boosting your reputation and your bottom line.


<h2>8 ways locums can improve patient experience</h2>


 1. Communication with doctors, nurses, and hospital staff &ndash; Locums can serve as effective and empathetic providers who communicate
 directly with their patients. However, they can also be utilized to pick up
 responsibilities which would typically fall on permanent physicians and
 advanced practice professionals, alleviating time constraints so your core
 medical staff can dedicate undivided attention to their patients.



 2. Pain management &ndash; There are locums in every
 specialty. Bringing in a locums anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse
 anesthetist can help streamline your anesthesiology department, ensuring
 patients have adequate access to immediate, effective, and safe pain care.


 3. The hospital environment – Locums are skilled at adapting to new
 environments and can help ease the stress your permanent providers may be
 experiencing. Having ample medical staff can help your patients feel secure,
 relaxed, and confident within your facility. After all, patients can sense a
 tense atmosphere, and this is not conducive to building a strong reputation.


 4. Transition of care – Locums are accustomed to transitions. Due to
 the nature of their assignments, locums know they must be thorough,
 documenting accurately and transitioning care of patients carefully and
 effectively.


 5. Culture – Each patient brings his or her own history and identity.
 Locums know to thoughtfully consider every patient’s health status, heritage,
 language, socioeconomic background, family, etc. when providing care.


 6. Quality of care – When you partner with a locums company that works
 diligently to interview, vet, and credential providers, you can be confident
 you’ll have a quality professional. Increasing numbers of professionals – both
 emerging and seasoned providers – are choosing the locums lifestyle. These are
 high-caliber, well-trained doctors and APPs who simply love the freedom and
 flexibility locums brings and who will be an asset to your team.


 7. Speedy responsiveness – When your providers are taxed, they cannot
 be efficient. Appointments begin to fall behind, nurses and physicians cannot
 return calls, staff becomes overwhelmed. When patients are kept waiting,
 satisfaction plummets. Locums can pick up slack, help get appointments back on
 track, call patients, and improve response time, leading to much happier
 patients.


 8. Satisfied providers – Provider burnout is rampant across the
 industry, especially in times such as these. The addition of locums can help
 you give your team members a break. Locums can ease schedules, reduce hours,
 and free up time for providers to take leave. Patients notice when there is
 not adequate staff. They also notice when their providers seem to be
 dissatisfied due to
 <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3743622/"
 >limited time</a
 >.

<h2>How Cross Country Locums can help</h2>

 Patient satisfaction is complex. Evaluating and striving to improve the
 patient experience can be time-consuming. However, it is an essential
 component of your facility success. Our team at Cross Country Locums can help
 you improve patient satisfaction with locum providers.
 <a href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/contact-us">Contact us</a> to
 learn more.

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8 Ways Locum Tenens Providers Can Improve Patient Experience

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