Patient satisfaction is often linked to what healthcare quality measure?

Patient satisfaction is closely associated with readmission rates, as high levels of dissatisfaction often lead to an increased likelihood of patients returning to the hospital. When patients are unhappy with their care experience—whether due to aspects like communication, responsiveness, or perceived efficiency—they may not follow discharge instructions effectively, which can result in complications and subsequent readmissions.

Understanding patient satisfaction in relation to readmission rates emphasizes the importance of quality care. Improving the experience a patient has during their stay or interaction with healthcare services can lead to better health outcomes and reduced need for readmission.

The other options do not directly connect to patient satisfaction as closely as readmission rates do. For example, while patient safety incidents are crucial for overall healthcare quality, they primarily focus on the clinical aspect of care rather than the satisfaction of the patient. Cost per treatment may influence certain decisions but does not directly reflect how patients perceive their care experience. Finally, while a patient not returning for service could be a sign of dissatisfaction, it is more of a consequence rather than a measure directly linked to the quality of care received, particularly in the context of healthcare system evaluations.