Background: Healthy people 2000 indicated that special population groups often need community-based preventative efforts and targeted clinical preventative services. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate visit specific patient satisfaction and access to care for an elderly population that uses a federally funded women's health clinic located in the Appalachian Region of the United States. Methods: A single-step questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected representative population sample of elderly women who use the women's health clinic. Data collected included three areas that relate to perceived quality of care: accessibility, acceptability, and overall patient satisfaction. Results: Twenty-eight elderly women veterans participated in the survey. Of those who responded, 83% stated the overall visit was excellent, as compared to 17% who stated the overall visit as very good. Ninety-seven percent of the respondents stated that accessibility to clinic services was very good to excellent. Ninety-seven percent of the sample surveyed stated that the acceptability of clinic services as very good to excellent. Conclusions: The literature suggests a correlation between accessibility, acceptability, and overall patient satisfaction. The elderly, who account for a substantial amount of healthcare expenditures, gain healthcare services from a variety of resources. The data collected from this study suggests that the elderly women who participated in this survey are satisfied with the services that they receive at the clinic.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Identify how to evaluate visit specific patient satisfaction and access to care for an elderly population 2. Discuss ways to develop a similar survey instrument to measure other populations in their field of interest
Keywords: Patient Satisfaction, Special Populations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.