Patient Ratings by Providers – the next act.
Several lines of the page in all sorts of media have been devoted to the evaluative concepts of healthcare organization ratings and physician provider ratings. Many websites dot the web with such databases for patients of all types to delve into and either look for a new provider or submit a subjective evaluation based on their most recent healthcare experience. Providers have understandably been reluctant to embrace such social media platforms with open arms for fear of unjustified slander at the hands of a disgruntled patient. Hospitals and other healthcare organizations are engaged in a full court press to improve public opinion by means of advertising infection rates, medical error, and pricing information under the umbrella of transparency. Recently I presented the notion on my blog Healthcare Today of nurses being rated as physician providers are. Taking a paraphrased quote from the BBC in which one British healthcare leader equated the level of compassion and the quality of care provided by nursing staff was as important to the healing process of a patient as a surgeon’s skill.
Well what about patient ratings? At first blush many of you may say how on earth could you obtain patient ratings? What criteria would you rate patients by? What about all the privacy issues? Some good questions for sure. While it is doubtful that there would ever be a public access database for providers to rate patients, the practice of developing patient lists by providers and rating them has been in use of years. Most notably emergency departments quite often have lists of patients that have been deemed likely narcotic drug seekers that other providers may inquire into. With the advent of electronic medical records obtaining visit histories is all too efficient and quick to see who came in last and for what. It is easy to see a pattern of complaints by patients that typically give the impression of narcotic abuse.
Other possibilities are for hospitals to develop internal patient lists that rate patients by their ability to pay their bills. How often are they seen in the hospital or provider’s office? How often are they delinquent with their remuneration? What is their level of compliance with treatment programs? These lists if they were ever to be developed could be shared covertly between sister hospitals and fellow providers so as to shun unwanted or troublesome patients. In this day and age of poor reimbursements and the growing demands on providers don’t be so sure that this type of activity isn’t being looked at or even used as you read this. Hospitals and providers want good patients that are compliant and pay their bills.
About the Author
Mike Pringle is the author of Healthcare Today where he offers commentary and insight regarding today’s healthcare issues. Additionally he provides regular commentary for Red Scrubs and editorial content for Future Healthcare. He has over 20 years of nursing experience working both domestically and internationally. Mike has a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and a Masters Degree in Public Administration with a Healthcare emphasis. He specializes in both Emergency and Critical Care Nursing. He currently works at Falmouth Hospital as a Shift Manager for the emergency department.
