Nurse communication showed a moderately strong correlation to overall hospital ratings in a study of Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) composite measures. “From a health policy standpoint, it is imperative that hospital administrators stress open and clear communication between providers and patients to avoid problems ranging from misdiagnosis to incorrect treatment,” the researchers concluded. They added additional research is needed to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic influences “patients' perceptions of quality and willingness to recommend hospitals” at a time when nurses and physicians show symptoms of burnout. (International Journal of Quality Health Care article, 11/17/20)
