Determinants of Patient-Reported Experience After Interhospital Transfer Within an Integrated Health System.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Experience Research
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Interhospital transfer (IHT) is common in integrated health systems.
• Understanding patient-reported experiences after IHT is crucial for quality improvement.
• Previous research has not fully elucidated factors influencing satisfaction post-transfer within these systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient-reported experiences following interhospital transfer (IHT) within an integrated health system.
• To identify specific communication and care coordination domains associated with overall patient satisfaction after IHT.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of adult patient experience surveys from July 2024 to June 2025.
• Propensity score matching (1:1) to compare transferred and nontransferred patients.
• Logistic regression and qualitative analysis of open-ended comments to identify satisfaction drivers.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in overall hospital ratings between transferred and nontransferred patients post-matching (p = .40).
• Environmental cleanliness was independently associated with higher odds of a "very good" hospital rating (OR 1.76; p = .036).
• Qualitative data highlighted clear communication and coordinated care as satisfaction drivers, with room for improvement in discharge instructions and inter-site communication.

Conclusions:

• Interhospital transfer within an integrated health system does not appear to adversely affect patient satisfaction.
• Environmental cleanliness, effective communication, and care coordination are paramount for positive patient experiences.