The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed a national standard for measuring patient experience through its H-CAHPS survey. The California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) and the California Institute for Health Systems Performance (CIHSP) have been chosen to conduct a pilot study in California based on CMS’ survey instrument. The program will establish a standardized tool that any organization can use to obtain patient data about hospital experiences. CHCF and CIHSP will use the data collected to provide consumers with comparative data on hospitals. Implementation of the California pilot is planned for February 2004 with a public report released in the fall of 2004. Hospitals must sign up by January 30, 2004, to participate in the program.

The former Patients’ Evaluation of Performance in California (PEP-C) initiative has been approved as an H-CAHPS pilot project to test the revised survey instrument and proposed implementation methodology prior to national implementation next year. The H-CAHPS survey instrument will form the core of a new California patient experience survey with a number of existing measures from CHCF/CIHSP’s former PEP-C survey. By participating in the new patient experience survey, California hospitals will have the advantage of reviewing early data on their performance as it compares with the national standard and the ability to implement changes based on the data prior to national implementation.

According to CHCF President and CEO Mark D. Smith, M.D., M.B.A., "The patient experience survey is a unique opportunity for hospitals to work collaboratively and participate in the advancement of quality of care measurement. The survey provides comparable, standardized hospital patient data for medical, surgical, and maternity patients with the goal of improving patient care."

The survey is designed to:

• Provide actionable information about performance.
• Measure valid samples of medical, surgical, and maternity care.
• Gain positive visibility for participating hospitals by demonstrating their concern for patients.
• Allow benchmarking both nationally and locally.
• Meet purchaser and consumer demands for information on quality of care.

CIHSP President and CEO Marsha Nelson notes, "The patient experience survey is a groundbreaking project. The initial public release in August 2001 established, for the first time, a meaningful, scientifically valid survey of patient experience in California hospitals. The second public release in June 2003, the largest survey of its kind, included responses from 34,913 individuals who spent at least one night in a participating California hospital."

"Hospitals across California understand that today’s consumers desire and deserve reliable, meaningful information on hospital quality and patient satisfaction," said Jim Barber, CEO of the Hospital Association of Southern California. "The [patient experience] survey is an excellent tool for helping hospitals assess the satisfaction of their patients. We strongly support this initiative."

Prior CHCF/CIHSP patient experience survey efforts have enjoyed the endorsement of major purchasers, health plans, and consumer groups in California including: AARP, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, California Black Health Network, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, CalPERS, HealthNet, Integrated Healthcare Association, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, PacifiCare, and the Pacific Business Group on Health. Professional and trade associations endorsing the project include: California Healthcare Association, Hospital Association of Southern California, Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties, Hospital Council of Northern and Central California, and the Association of California Nurse Leaders.

The California Institute for Health Systems Performance is an independent non-profit corporation dedicated to improving health care quality in California and to increasing the accountability of the provider community. Visit www.cihsp.org for more information.