How Hospitals Compare on Patient Satisfaction

In terms of insurance coverage, mental health services already face discrimination. Why should this also apply to the issue of patient satisfaction?

One might say that mental health patients are unable to accurately describe how their care was delivered. That might be true - although certainly, not always. It should also be mentioned that a very significant percentage of hospital inpatients have a mental health issue in addition to their primary diagnosis.

However, in the case of care for children, do we ask the children to complete the patient satisfaction form? No, we ask their parents to do so, speaking for their interests. In the case of mental health patients, shouldn't this same consideration be extended to a family member who has been designated as responsible for making care decisions.

Just as with medical care, the mental health care will improve only if government applies the same basic quality of care expectations.

Currently, US psychiatry hospitals are rated by US News only based on reputation among US physicians. So, if US News wants to improve its rating system for psychiatric services to match that of other hospital-based services, it is in its best interest to advocate for this change in HCAHPS.

Joel Stegner of MN 2:23PM March 31, 2008