What aspect of healthcare does the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) evaluate?

• A. The cost of healthcare services
• B. Health outcomes of treatment interventions
• C. The patient experience of care
• D. The prevalence of chronic illnesses

Answer: (C)

The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) specifically evaluates the patient experience of care. It focuses on gathering feedback from patients about their interactions with healthcare providers, including their satisfaction with various aspects of care, such as communication, accessibility, and the overall patient experience during visits. This evaluation helps healthcare organizations identify areas for improvement in service quality and patient satisfaction.

In contrast, the other aspects—cost of healthcare services, health outcomes of treatment interventions, and the prevalence of chronic illnesses—are important components of healthcare assessment but do not fall under the specific scope of CAHPS. Cost assessments look into financial aspects, health outcomes assess the effectiveness of treatments, and prevalence rates focus on the frequency of diseases, none of which capture the direct experience and satisfaction of patients with their healthcare providers as CAHPS does.