CAHPS

CAHPS stands for the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems. It is a program developed and maintained by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to measure and report on the experiences of patients receiving healthcare. CAHPS surveys ask patients about their recent experiences with doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. The goal is to provide standardized, reliable data that can be used to assess and improve the quality of care.

The CAHPS program offers a variety of survey instruments tailored to different healthcare settings and populations. These include surveys for hospitals, medical groups, Medicare Advantage plans, and home health agencies, among others. The surveys typically cover topics such as communication with doctors and nurses, attention to patient needs, and the environment of care. The data collected from CAHPS surveys is often publicly reported, allowing consumers to compare the performance of different healthcare providers and systems. This transparency is intended to drive improvements in patient satisfaction and the overall quality of healthcare services. Organizations use CAHPS data for quality improvement initiatives, public reporting, and payment adjustments.