The challenges of patient satisfaction: influencing factors and the patient - provider relationship in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Patient satisfaction is a phenomenon that has become influential in the inpatient setting with the introduction of the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Practitioners and Systems (HCAHPS) survey in the United States. Patient satisfaction is a key goal of healthcare organizations and presents some challenges to providing quality patient care. Areas covered: This review will focus on the challenges patient satisfaction presents in the healthcare field, with a key focus on factors that influence patient satisfaction, the common problem of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions and the importance of the patient-provider relationship. Expert commentary: While it is apparent that focused efforts to better understand patient satisfaction are necessary and that implementation of processes to enhance satisfaction are warranted, attention must be directed so that these interventions do not adversely influence the efficiency or quality of care. Continuous long-term relationships with healthcare providers encourage patient loyalty, effective healthcare and good lifestyle habits.