Patient Satisfaction

Patient satisfaction refers to the extent to which a patient is satisfied with the healthcare he or she receives. Because patient satisfaction is assessed by self-reports from the patient, it is often considered a patient-reported outcome measure. Satisfaction can be assessed with care received in a variety of settings, such as ambulatory care, nursing home, hospital, and home health. The focus can be on care provided by health plans, provider groups, or individual physicians. Patient satisfaction is important because it provides the patient's perspective on the care delivered and is associated with adherence to medical recommendations, allegiance to healthcare providers, and utilization of care.