Cognitive interview techniques reveal specific behaviors and issues that could affect patient satisfaction relative to hospitalists.

Background: There is a trend toward patient-centered care as a means of improving patient satisfaction. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have made this concept more significant with plans to link reimbursement to patient satisfaction measures such as the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey (HCAHPS).

Objectives: To generate hypotheses for reasons underlying diminished HCAHPS patient satisfaction survey ratings, with reference to hospitalists.