Survey: Eight out of ten Germans are very worried about the lack of transparency in the healthcare system

26.04.2016 11:48

Lack of transparency and the lack of the opportunity to assess the quality of treatment yourself are a source of fear for 78 percent of those surveyed in an online survey by the Prophet management consultancy on the topic “What experiences have you had as a patient in hospitals?” In addition, 85 percent assume that the health system is no longer about the well-being of people, but rather about big money.

The functional and factory-like orientation of hospitals in particular is a concern for many German citizens. 78 percent of those surveyed stated that they were afraid of the inscrutable healthcare system if they became ill. Almost nine out of ten respondents would therefore find it helpful if hospitals and healthcare providers published quality reports that they as patients could view. And almost as many German citizens are of the opinion that those hospitals that treated patients like customers and tailored their offerings to the needs of their patients emerged as winners within the healthcare system.

“We have been seeing a dehumanization of the system for years. “The patients’ emotional needs hardly play a role anymore,” says Berlin Prophet partner Felix Stöckle, analyzing the results of the survey. This makes it all the more important to put the patient back at the center of the system and to base all actions on their needs. Patient satisfaction and operational efficiency do not have to contradict each other and do not automatically mean higher costs, says the consultant. Reducing the waiting time benefits both the patients, who are more satisfied, and the clinics, which can plan more efficiently. “A better and more holistic patient experience doesn’t just mean happier patients. It also leads to better patient care, lower costs, higher profits, more staff satisfaction and better employee retention,” says health expert Stöckle.