By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai‘i physicians received a better than passing grade — an average of 7 on a satisfaction scale of 10 — from a majority of patients responding to the second annual Hawai‘i Medical Service Association’s Member Satisfaction Survey, released yesterday.
The survey of 55,256 patients in three HMSA plans — Preferred Provider, 65C Plus and Health Plan Hawai‘i — shows that during the past year patients experienced growing satisfaction with their doctors and the insurance plans that help pay their medical bills.
A year ago, the first such survey here found that 92 percent of the 101,000 respondents would recommend their physician to family and friends. This year that rose to 94 percent among 55,256 respondents, according to senior vice president Cliff Cisco.
Last year, 90 percent of the respondents said they would select their current health plan again; this year that rose to 97 percent.
Cisco said the surveys were done to comply with the demands of national and state patients rights legislation, including the federal Health Care Consumer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities and the Hawai‘i Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.
Stephanie Aveiro, executive director of Hawai‘i Medical Association, the physicians’ professional organization, said, "It’s nice to see that the public is confirming what we thought."
Other highlights from the most recent survey:
 97 percent of HMSA patients said they were treated with courtesy and respect .
96 percent reported that their doctor spent enough time with them.
94 percent said the services they received met most or all of their needs.
91 percent rated their doctor 7 or above on a scale of 10.
[back to top] |
