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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

William G. Lehrman, PhD¹, Beth Kosiak, PhD², Thomas W. Reilly, PhD³, Elizabeth Goldstein, PhD¹, Charles Darby, MA⁴, Christine Crofton, PhD⁴, and Barbara Crawley, MS¹. (1) Division of Beneficiary Analysis, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Blvd., Mail Stop S1-13-05, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, 410 786-0834, wlehrman@cms.hhs.gov, (2) American Urological Association, 1000 Corporate Blvd., Linthicum, MD 21090, (3) Beneficiary Analysis and Education Group, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Blvd., Mail Stop S1-01-23, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, (4) Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Room 3000, Rockville, MD 20850

October 2006 will mark the first, full implementation of the CAHPS Hospital Survey (HCAHPS) for the purpose of publicly reporting hospital results. The form, content and purpose of HCAHPS have evolved since its inception in 2002 and reflect testing, refinement, internal and external vetting, and input from a variety of stakeholder groups. Recent legislation may further enhance the impact of this first national survey of patients' perspectives of hospital care. This paper will summarize the development of HCAHPS from a sociological/organizational perspective. We will outline the origins of HCAHPS, its empirical testing, revision, public comments, NQF review, OMB approval, and national implementation, as well as examine the role of federal legislation and the involvement of interested stakeholders. In addition, this paper will discuss the effect HCAHPS may have on hospitals, patients and consumers, as mediated through several key channels. Finally, this paper will serve as the introduction to this panel and to the associated roundtable discussion on the future of hospital public reporting.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Understand the purpose of the HCAHPS survey, its manner of implementation, and its timing.
• Appreciate how and why the survey evolved in scope and scale to encompass U.S. hospitals.
• Recognize how, by publicly reporting patients' perspectives of care and calling attention to quality improvement, HCAHPS may affect hospitals, patients and the healthcare system.

Keywords: Hospitals, Patient Perspective

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation