Patient Satisfaction

Introduction: The health care industry is undergoing transformation to meet the demands of the patients. Hospitals are shifting from viewing patients as illiterates and with little health care choice, to that of educated consumer who has wider health care choices. Patient satisfaction is regarded as an important indicator of quality of care and survey is one tool for measuring consumer experiences in hospital.

Objective: To study “Patients’ perceived satisfaction with diagnostic MRI services” in a Teaching hospital situated in Hyderabad.

Material and Methods: A cross–sectional survey, conducted in 200 respondents attending hospital for MRI investigation. Pilot tested, pre-structured, self-completion questionnaire is used to collect data.

MRI facility plays a major role in influencing patient satisfaction. In this service their high number, diverse mix of patients, procedure-related discomforts and phobias and examination types ranging from routine imaging to emergency cases poses unique challenges.[2] Patient satisfaction[PS] is an expression of the gap between expected and perceived attributes of service. It is an important and commonly used indicator for measuring the quality in health care.[3] Patient satisfaction is an attitude. Though it does not ensure that the patient will remain loyal to the doctor or the hospital, it is still a strong motivating factor. Patient satisfaction is only an indirect or a proxy indicator of the quality of hospital performance.[4] Patient evaluation of service and facility are important concepts and quality outcome indicators. It provides an opportunity for improvement such as strategic framing of hospital plans.[5] Rashid Al-Abri and Amina Al-Balushi found that there is no consensus between the literatures on how to define the concept of patient satisfaction in

To improve on patients’ satisfaction, radiographers have to imbibe the right ethical attitude in their conduct while discharging duties.[13] Augustine Obi Okar(2015) found that there is a need for improved ethical/professional conduct of radiographers and general service delivery in the radiology departments of the hospitals to enhance patient satisfaction.[14] Ogbonnia Godfrey Ochonma et al (2016) suggested customer relations are sources of dissatisfaction. Providers of health care services and radiographers in particular need special orientation in customer relations to foster good patient satisfaction strategies.[15] Whitney L. Jackson (2012) in his article revealed that James Lipcamon, out-patient imaging services manager for East Cooper Medical Center in Mt. Pleasant, SC, “patient satisfaction is a big deal for today’s radiologists, both in the hospital and private imaging center setting. For any patient coming into a hospital setting or an imaging center, they already expect our competency. That’s not what they’re mainly concerned about; they’re looking for the warm fuzzies,” he said. “And, if you’re in a competitive market, patient satisfaction is critical because word-of-mouth drives a lot of health care business. Someone has a bad experience with you, they’ll tell 10 people. If they have a good one, they’ll tell three or