The CMS Triple Aim: Enhancing Patient Experience Through Precision and Definition

Patient satisfaction scores have long been a crucial metric in healthcare, but they often fail to capture the full scope of a patient's experience. The concept of patient experience is complex, influenced by factors that span before, during, and after an episode of care. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of prioritizing patient experience in organizational and clinical care settings.

The National Quality Forum notes that nursing leaders have identified patient experience as their top priority (National Quality Forum, 2011). This mandate to report on patient experience metrics has forced healthcare providers to confront the challenge of defining precision around this term. The result is a more nuanced understanding of the patient experience, including the experiences of caregivers and families.

Measuring and understanding these experiences provides an opportunity for reflection and improvement in nursing care and patient outcomes. By prioritizing patient experience, healthcare providers can create a more personalized and compassionate approach to care, leading to better health outcomes and improved quality of life.

In this context, the CMS Triple Aim initiative takes on added significance. By focusing on improving the patient experience, reducing costs, and improving population health, healthcare providers can achieve greater alignment with the Triple Aim goals.

As nursing leaders continue to prioritize patient experience, it is essential that they engage in ongoing efforts to define precision around this term. This requires a commitment to data-driven decision making, rigorous research, and collaboration across disciplines. By working together, we can create a healthcare system that truly prioritizes the needs of patients and families, leading to better health outcomes and improved quality of life.

Author Bio:

Dr. 'Berkowitz' is Dean and Professor of Nursing at Columbia University School of Nursing and Senior Vice President of the Columbia University Medical Center. With expertise in public health systems and health equity, she has dedicated her career to improving healthcare outcomes through research and leadership.

Cms triple aim