Picker Data Still Offers Value- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Picker Data Still Offers Value- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
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September 22, 2000
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In This Issue:
A Lifetime of Women’s Health
This month’s Service Hero
A Call For Leaders
Everyone Screams for Top 10 Ice Cream!
Nominate a leader
Blood Donation Challenge Results: BWH–306;MGH–449
More Success for Team Brigham
New Nursing Appointment
Hispanic Heritage Event at SJPHC
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Picker Data Still Offers Value
Pike Notes
Although the second public release of the Picker satisfaction survey scheduled for fall 2000 has been cancelled, BWH intends to use its data internally for ongoing quality improvement efforts. The survey of 54 Massachusetts acute-care hospitals, including BWH, was collected by the Boston-based Picker Institute and envisioned to measure patient satisfaction in areas such as the admission and discharge processes, communication and emotional support. Picker's 2000 fall results were to be a follow-up to its first survey in 1998, when data was released publicly for patients to use when selecting hospitals for their care. Due to inconsistencies in the way the information was collected at individual hospitals, the MHA decided to cancel the public release. "Even though the data will not be publicly released, the information offers us yet another form of patient feedback," said Paula Johnson, MD, director of Quality Management Services at BWH. "It is a good measure of how well we are attaining our patient satisfaction goals; and for that reason, we are still using the data to build upon our ongoing efforts to improve patient care delivery." According to Johnson, this year's release of information was highly anticipated, as it was thought to clarify how BWH compared to other hospitals since BWH implemented changes based on the results of the 1998 survey. BWH’s Patient Satisfaction Steering Committee leads the hospital’s ongoing efforts to improve patient satisfaction. The commitment from the hospitals to voluntarily participate in Picker's survey of patient experiences was driven by MHQP, a coalition established in 1995 to advance public accountability, promote quality improvement and reduce duplication in health care performance measurement. BWH is committed to continued participation in the coalition’s efforts.