Reaching for Excellence
Community Vision and Voices for Western New York Health Care
Measuring Performance
Getting Care, Tests Or Treatment
What This Indicator Measures
This indicator tracks the percentage of Western New York health plan customers reporting that their doctor "always" spent enough time with them.
Why This Measure Matters
The ease with which patients receive appointments for tests, treatments is a measure of the system's level of coordination and efficiency, not to mention its capacity in providing care. It also suggests flexibility in accommodating the needs of the patient, whose scheduling may be restricted by employment, transportation or family responsibilities. Also, confidence in access to care contributes to the continuity of care and constructive visits while reducing the potential of resorting to the emergency room for care.
Learn how this indicator informs these WNY Health Care Priorities:
% of Health Plan Customers Reporting That They Always Were Able to Get the Care, Tests, and Treatments That They Needed Through Their Health Plan
Data Sources & Notes
This chart presents summary level results from the CAHPS Health Plan survey conducted in 2008, as provided by the New York State Department of Health. The survey question for this indicator was "In the last 12 months, how often was it easy to get the care, tests, or treatment you thought you needed through your health plan?" Possible responses to this question were "always," "usually," "sometimes" and "never." Western New York averages reflect enrollment-weighted averages, while national averages are from the 2008 CAHPS Health Plan Survey Chartbook.
