Improving patient satisfaction in the orthopaedic trauma population.

OBJECTIVES

Patient satisfaction is a key determinant of the quality of care and an important component of pay for performance metrics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a simple intervention aimed to increase patients' understanding of their orthopaedic trauma surgeon and improve patient satisfaction with the overall quality of inpatient care delivered by the attending surgeon.

DESIGN

Prospective quality improvement initiative using a randomized intervention.

SETTING

Level 1 academic trauma center.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred twelve patients were eligible; 100 patients were randomized to the intervention group, and 112 patients were randomized to the control group. Overall, 76 patients could be reached for follow-up satisfaction survey, including 34 patients in the intervention group and 42 patients in the control group.

INTERVENTION

Patients randomized to the intervention group received an attending biosketch card, which included a picture of the attending orthopaedic surgeon with a brief synopsis of his educational background, specialty, surgical interests, and research interests.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Our primary outcome measure was a patient satisfaction survey assessing patients' rating of the overall quality of inpatient care delivered by the attending surgeon.

RESULTS

Overall, 25 (74%) of 34 patients who received an attending biosketch card reported "excellent overall quality of doctor care," whereas only 22 (52%) of 42 patients in the control group reported "excellent overall quality of doctor care" (P = 0.05). Age, gender, race, education, insurance status, primary injury type, and the length of hospital stay were not significant with reference to "excellent" outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically significant improvements in satisfaction with the overall quality of inpatient care by the attending surgeon were identified in patients who received a biosketch card of his or her attending orthopaedic surgeon.