Summary/Abstract This application proposes a program of research, development, and evaluation of the use of consumers’ assessments of health care for informing health care choices and quality improvement. The goals of the program are organized in five areas: (1) Survey and supplemental item set development, revision of surveys, and trademarking; (2) Survey methods research aimed at achieving equity in patients’ experience of care; (3) Analysis and reporting of patient experience data, including assessments of how well different subgroups in the population are represented in survey responses; (4) Patient experience quality improvement studies based on CAHPS data; and (5) Developing internal and external program communication strategies to critical stakeholders. The proposed methods include focus groups, cognitive interviewing, interviewing of expert informants, establishing technical expert panels with nationally recognized experts, and field tests of draft surveys. The team will use standard psychometric statistical techniques to analyze survey data. The team will conduct experiments to assess reporting strategies and quality improve initiatives. The applicants are a consortium of experts in consumer survey design, report development, experimental assessment of consumer perceptions and medical care choice behavior, patient experience quality improvement, evaluation research, and communication and dissemination from the Yale School of Public Health, Mass General Brigham healthcare system and Harvard Medical School, the Center for Survey Research at the University of Massachusetts, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and several nationally known independent researchers and consultants. This consortium proposes maintaining continuity in the CAHPS development process by continuing critical activities and well-established collaborations from previous CAHPS projects and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) projects, while strengthening the team to bring new skills, perspectives, and expertise to the project. The team has close partnerships with collaborating demonstration sites and has established relationships with public and private organizations that share an interest in refining and assessing CAHPS products for improved consumer decision making and quality improvement.

Project Narrative The CAHPS VI team will develop, test, and maintain CAHPS surveys; survey methods and protocols; and analysis programs. In addition, the team will conduct and evaluate quality improvement projects. The study results, surveys, reporting materials, and quality improvement methods will be communicated and promoted to improve patients’ care experiences.