Two recent PatientsLikeMe studies have shed new light on the patient experience with health care and show that while opinions about care and provider performance vary according to condition, diverse patient groups agree on the top factors that constitute “good” care. Results from a six-question online poll conducted in February 2018 among 2,559 PatientsLikeMe members show that patients with certain conditions, especially those living with fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), are the least satisfied with their provider or care, while those with ALS, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease are among the most satisfied. In a corresponding primary study, conducted with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and completed late last year, PatientsLikeMe surveyed a diverse group of patients and health stakeholders to understand how they fundamentally defined good care, with the ultimate aim to influence ways in which provider effectiveness is measured. The primary study’s findings also generated a simple checklist for evaluating care and provider performance.
Read more: