09 Nov Perceived Hospital Cleanliness Has Big Impact on Patient Satisfaction
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dusty Deringer
Dusty Deringer
Vice president of Patient Experience for Crothall Healthcare
Compass One Healthcare
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings from your new research?
Response: Patients’ perceptions of a hospital’s cleanliness can have a major impact on their overall care and hospital experience. Specifically, the data show correlations between patients’ perceptions of room cleanliness and three important categories: the risk of hospital-acquired infections; a hospital’s score on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey and scores on the HCAHPS teamwork indicators.
The findings are important because patients are more likely to recommend a hospital they perceive to be clean. Therefore, it makes cleanliness a target for improvement for all hospitals.
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The findings are part of a new strategic partnership between Compass One Healthcare and Press Ganey designed to enable Compass One to deliver more patient-centric experiences. Compass One Healthcare is comprised of Morrison Healthcare food and nutrition services and Crothall Healthcare support services companies.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: The strong correlation between patients’ perception of cleanliness and hospital-acquired infections supports the idea that patients can judge cleanliness. This finding validates the important role that a hospital’s Environmental Services staff plays in patients’ evaluation of their hospital experience. Hospitals seeking to distinguish themselves from competitors should help EVS staff members understand how the physical environment can influence the patient experience.
MedicalResearch.com: What can hospitals do to improve cleanliness?
Response: The report recommends that hospital leaders and department managers do the following:
• Recognize and value EVS workers as stakeholders in the delivery of safe, effective, quality care;
• Consistently identify and employ evidence-based guidance and practices in EVS to optimize the cleanliness
and perceived cleanliness of hospital rooms and common areas;
• Reinforce accountability for service excellence among the EVS staff;
• Foster a culture of teamwork, communication and collaboration between the EVS staff and other care givers.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation: Press Ganey, in partnership with Compass One Healthcare, Report
Environmental Services: Delivering on the Patient-Centered Promise November 2016
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
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Last Updated on November 9, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD