Patient experience is generally acknowledged as a key indicator of health care quality, whereby positive patient experience has been associated with higher levels of patient safety. Improving patient experience is a priority for health systems, which has led to a proliferation of approaches to capture patient experience. Irish health policy has committed to patient-centredness for many years, with Sláintecare, having the specific aim of improving patient and service-user experience. In order for patient experience data to be an effective lever for service improvement within healthcare organisations, there is a need to understand how such data is being utilised to initiate and facilitate improvement. The aim of this project will be to explore how patient experience data is currently being collected and used for service improvement within the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH).
Methods: A mixed methods approach consisting of three phases:
Phase 1: Mapping of patient experience data collection methods used within the NRH.
Phase 2: Secondary analysis of existing survey data and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders at the NRH to explore how patient experience data is disseminated and utilised.
Phase 3: Content analysis of meeting minutes (clinical programme, executive management meetings, hospital board) and annual reports to identify how patient experience is utilised
Data triangulation of the three phases will be adopted to synthesise and verify the combined evidence and a report will be produced. The results will be shared locally and presented at National and International conferences. A paper will also be published to share the knowledge generated.
