Surveying patients as a start to quality improvement in the surgical suites holding area

The holding area, as the patient's first introduction to the surgical suites, has the potential to set the tone for the entire surgical experience. To identify targets for improvement efforts in the holding area, a convenience sample of 51 surgical patients completed a 12-item patient satisfaction survey developed using Androfact before discharge from hospital. Results reveal 5 aspects that fall below the desired benchmark satisfaction rate of 80%: staff holding personal conversations in the patients' presence, being offered distraction materials while waiting, pleasantness of the physical environment, reassurance that family members would be kept up-to-date during the surgical procedure, and comfort to provide personal information without worrying that others were listening. Discussion of findings indicates priorities for improvement efforts in the holding area.