Patient Warming Plays a Significant Role in Patient Satisfaction, Clinical Outcomes

A positive patient experience can become a distinct competitive advantage for a healthcare facility. It can set them apart, drive traffic to their door and feed their revenue stream. Studies have shown that individual purchase decisions are influenced more by personal experiences and the experiences of significant others or family than by a public claim of quality from hospitals or a published report card.³ According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 70 percent of Americans said they are more likely to choose a hospital, doctor, or health plan based on the recommendation of a family member or friend versus industry ratings.⁴

Patient satisfaction also can be closely linked to the financial strength or profitability for a healthcare facility. A 51-hospital study found a strong relationship between hospital financial performance and patients’ ratings of care. The study’s authors concluded that “Relatively small increases in the level of patient satisfaction are associated with millions of dollars in year-end earnings for the average hospital.”⁵

In addition, studies conducted in 2002 and 2003 show a direct correlation between the patient satisfaction scores and financial strength of more than 1,300 hospitals examined by Press Ganey & Associates and Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. Their findings revealed that the higher the patient satisfaction score, the more profitable the hospital.⁶

So, what does this all mean for today’s healthcare facilities? In short, today patient satisfaction is an inseparable part of care, quality and successful operations. Patient satisfaction is a potent mechanism for increasing and sustaining a facility’s quality, efficiency, market share and bottom line. Best of all, efforts to improve patient satisfaction more than pay for themselves.¹