Care Partner’s Experience with Care Received in the Emergency Department

Patient satisfaction is becoming increasingly viewed as a key component of high-quality care. The literature has shown relationships between high patient satisfaction and improved patient and hospital outcomes, including profitability (Kelley et al. 2014; Richter and Muhlestein 2017). During their journey, patients are often accompanied by a significant other, family member or friend (care partner) when they go to a medical setting to receive care. Although very important in the patient work system, we know relatively little about who these care partners are and how they experience the care the patient receives. In this study, we examine the experience of care partners of older patients who present to the emergency department (ED) with a fall.