(Press Ganey Associates Inc.: South Bend, Indiana) -- By analyzing patient satisfaction data representing 1.5 million patients and 1,158 hospitals across the nation from January 2007 through June 2008, Press Ganey Associates Inc. found a dramatic upturn in patient satisfaction, strengthening the link between public disclosure and health care quality.

Following the first public release of the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) data in March, a positive year-over-year increase in performance was seen in April. This further widened to statistically significant year-over-year increases for the months of May and June. These trends were noted for the percentage of patients rating their hospital as a 9 or 10, as well as the percentage of patients who said they would definitely recommend the facility, which directly affects a hospital’s patient volumes and its revenue.

 …