From hospital to post-acute care organizations: The relationship between patient experience and health recovery

Objective: To determine to what extent patient health status and recovery in post-acute care organizations (PACO) is related to patient experience of the discharge process from hospital and to patient experience while staying in these facilities. Design: Longitudinal study of patients discharged from hospitals to PACO. Setting: 12 hospitals and 14 PACO Portuguese organizations. Participants: 181 patients participated in the both stages of data gathering. Main Outcome Measures: Patients' physical and mental health status was measured through the 36-item short form health survey scale. The experience of transition from hospital to PACO was measured with the Care Transition Measure. The Picker Adult In-Patient Questionnaire was used to measure patients' experience in these organizations. Results: Patients reporting better physical condition in PACO had a better experience on discharge [b = 0.21, 95% confidence interval, CI (0.10, 0.31)] and perceive fewer problems inside facilities [b = - 0.19, 95% CI (-0.31, 0.08)]. The experience in PACO is significantly related to patients' mental health status [b = - 0.47, 95% CI (-0.59, - 0.36)]. Patients showing higher levels of physical recovery had a better experience on discharge [b = - 0.18, 95% CI (0.08, 0.28)], while those registering better mental recovery experienced fewer problems during their stay [b = - 0.41, 95% CI (-0.52, - 0.30)]. Conclusions: PACO play a key role in maintaining and promoting patients' health, and this goal is influenced by their experience both in the transition from hospitals to PACO and while staying in these facilities.