"A Phenomenal Person and Doctor": Thank You Letters to Medical Care Providers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Thank you letters to physicians and medical facilities are an untapped resource, providing an invaluable glimpse into what patients notice and appreciate in their care.

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyze such thank you letters as posted on the Web by medical institutions to find what patients and families consider to be good care. In an age of patient-centered care, it is pivotal to see what metrics patients and families apply when assessing their care and whether they grasp specific versus general qualities in their care.

Methods

Our exploratory inquiry covered 100 thank you letters posted on the Web by 26 medical facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom. We systematically coded and descriptively presented the aspects of care that

SUBMITTER: Miron-Shatz T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5695918 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature