A Comparison of Surgical Quality and Patient Satisfaction Indicators Between VA Hospitals and Hospitals Near VA Hospitals.

Background: The Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act established a community care program allowing veterans to receive care outside Veteran Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs). We sought to compare patient safety and satisfaction indicators from VAMCs and surrounding non-VAMCs (non-VAs).

Methods: We identified VAMCs with at least one non-VA acute care hospital within 25 miles in three geographic regions (West/Southwest, New England, and Deep South). Children's, specialty, and critical access hospitals were excluded. Using publicly available Hospital Compare data, we analyzed VAMC and surrounding non-VA performance in postsurgical patient safety indicator (PSI) events and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems patient satisfaction scores and hospital star ratings.

Results: The 34 VAMCs performed better than 319 surrounding non-VAs in rates of wound dehiscence, accidental lacerations, and perioperative hemorrhage/hematoma as well as composite PSI rating (P < 0.05). VAMCs performed significantly better than non-VAs (18.0 versus 51.4 events per 1000 patients, P < 0.001) in composite surgery-specific PSIs. When comparing mean linear Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems score star ratings (1-5 scale), VAMCs had similar performance in overall hospital rating compared with non-VAs (3.28 versus 3.38, P = 0.48) and summary rating of hospital stays (2.87 versus 2.92, P = 0.69). When compiled patient satisfaction star ratings were compared, there was no difference (2.96 versus 2.97, P = 0.9). VAMCs performed worse than non-VAs in "would recommend" ratings (2.7 versus 3.13, P = 0.007).

Conclusions: Across disparate regions, VAMCs match or outperform neighboring non-VAs in surgical quality metrics and patient satisfaction ratings. Veterans receiving surgical care at VAMCs may receive equivalent or better care than at non-VAs.