Changes in healthcare industry may make patient satisfaction software a priority

Posted by Justin Hesser on October 16, 2012

Of the recent changes in the healthcare system made by the Obama Administration, one has caused the industry’s leaders to reconsider the way they view patient satisfaction.

While most companies find the reward for consumer satisfaction in a loyal customer base, or a good review on a social media website to bring in more traffic, the healthcare industry, instead, will be paid nearly $1 billion by the federal government based on patient satisfaction surveys, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The higher hospitals score on these surveys, the more they will receive as an incentive from the White House. Should they score low, they will lose money. This has forced many healthcare facilities to rethink the way they approach patient satisfaction and the obstacles that are inherently present in a hospital. Some physicians are skeptical.

“You go to Disney for a great vacation experience,” Dr. Rhonda Scott, chief nursing officer at the Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, told the Journal. “You go to Ruth’s Chris for a great dining experience. Do you think it is a great experience when I tell you that you have stage-four cancer and you may be dead in three months?”

Using database software to maintain patient satisfaction

By consulting FileMaker developers, healthcare administrators can use custom database software to track patient responsibilities and duties. Such capabilities encourage well-run offices, shortening extended waiting times and eliminating frivolous appointments or frustrating patient experiences. Some healthcare facilities have deployed practice management software effectively to organize appointments, send out reminders and coordinate in-office communication.

Ultimately, even if administrators find that certain patients have not been served in the best way possible, a physician can circle back later to do the extra leg work needed to ensure that the patient is satisfied, helping facilities maintain a good score on the government’s surveys. That’s the type of increased visibility available through custom database software.