Hospitality healthscapes: a conjoint analysis approach to understanding patient responses to hotel-like hospital rooms
Files
Accepted manuscript
Date
2017-02-01
Authors
Suess, Courtney
Mody, Makarand
Version
OA Version
Citation
Courtney Suess, Makarand Mody. 2017. "Hospitality healthscapes: A conjoint analysis approach to understanding patient responses to hotel-like hospital rooms." INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, Volume 61, pp. 59 - 72 (14).
Abstract
In an increasingly competitive market, healthcare providers are incorporating best practices from the hospitality industry to improve the patient experience. The present study offers a model of hospitality healthscapes to provide a patient-based perspective of the infusion of hospitality into healthcare. A study of 406 respondents examined the hotel-like attributes that patients prefer in hospital rooms and the effect of their provision on patients’ well-being and willingness to pay higher out-of-pocket expenses. Using conjoint analysis and 3D visual representations of hospital rooms, the study found that high-end material finishes and hospitality-certified healthcare staff were the two greatest influences on patient choice. The study also found some differences between the preferences of “less healthy” and “more healthy” patients, with the less healthy patients willing to pay, on average, 13% higher out-of-pocket expenses for hotel-like hospital rooms than the more healthy patients. This study represents the first attempt in the evidence-based design literature to holistically and empirically examine the infusion of hospitality into healthcare by emphasizing the “patient as customer.” The findings have important marketing implications for healthcare providers who wish to enhance the patient experience.