The Value of Interventions Aimed at Improving the Patient Experience: Systematic Review of Economic Impacts and Provider Well-Being Outcomes

Background: Although improving the patient experience with care is being framed as part of value-based care, the economic and provider well-being impact of interventions for improving the patient experience has not been established. We aimed to synthesize the contemporary (2015–2024) empirical literature on the economic (e.g., costs, revenue) and other value-based impacts (e.g., provider well-being) of patient-experience improvement interventions. Methods: Systematic review using six databases of scientific literature (PubMed, EconLit, CINAHL, PsycINFO, DOAJ, and Scopus) supplemented by journal-specific and snowball searches following a registered study protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42022358337). Two independent reviewers performed eligibility decisions and quality appraisals of the study methods and economic assessments, when applicable; the latter was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s checklist for economic evaluations. Results: Out of 1317 unique references, nine were included. Four studies assessed the effectiveness of patient experience improvement interventions (e.g., provider communication training, discharge or transitional support) coupled with economic evaluations; these found statistically significant positive outcomes for both patient experience and economic dimensions—including reduced costs, improved revenue, or additional costs offset by increased revenue. Three additional studies on provider communication training also found statistically significant positive impacts on provider well-being (i.e., reduced burnout) and patient experience improvements. Conclusion: These findings shed light on the overall synergistic value of and business case for investments into developing patient experience improvement programs or activities. However, there is room for strengthening this body of knowledge in scope, volume, and method quality, including the need to study the impact on patient experience, provider well-being, health outcomes, and costs (i.e., the quadruple aim) in tandem.