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Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
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Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care

Published on: February 16, 2011

A simple approach to improving patient satisfaction

M Jeffrey Maisels1, Elizabeth A Kring

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA.

Clinical Pediatrics
|December 6, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Improved communication significantly boosts family satisfaction with pediatric hospital care. Daily visits from a communicator/facilitator addressing family questions enhanced satisfaction with nursing and physician care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric healthcare
  • Patient-centered communication
  • Family satisfaction studies

Background:

  • Hospitalized children's families often experience communication challenges.
  • Effective communication is crucial for family satisfaction with pediatric care.
  • Current healthcare environments emphasize quality of care and patient experience.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of a dedicated communicator/facilitator on family satisfaction.
  • To assess improvements in satisfaction with nursing and physician care.
  • To determine the effect of enhanced communication on overall family experience.

Main Methods:

  • Randomized controlled trial involving families of children on a general pediatric service.
  • Intervention group received daily visits from a communicator/facilitator.
  • Control group received routine care; satisfaction assessed via questionnaire.

Main Results:

  • Significant improvement in parent satisfaction across nursing, attending physician, and resident care (p<0.005).
  • The communicator/facilitator role positively impacted overall family satisfaction.
  • Addressing family questions, even non-medical ones, had a salutary effect.

Conclusions:

  • Enhanced communication strategies, including a dedicated facilitator, significantly improve family satisfaction in pediatric hospital settings.
  • Simple acts of communication and support positively influence the perception of care quality.
  • This communication model warrants further evaluation by healthcare administrators to improve patient experience.

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