Evaluation of a Patient-Collected Audio Audit and Feedback Quality Improvement Program on Clinician Attention to Patient Life Context and Health Care Costs in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System

Key Points Question Can data from patient-collected audio recordings of their visits help clinicians improve their attention to patient life context when planning care, improve patient outcomes, and reduce health care costs? Findings In this quality improvement study, feedback was delivered to 666 clinicians based on analysis of 4496 audio-recorded visits. Attention to patient contextual factors increased from 67% to 72%, and contextualized care planning was associated with a greater likelihood of improved outcomes, resulting in an estimated cost savings of $25.2 million from avoided hospitalizations. Meaning These findings suggest that continuous feedback to clinicians about their attention to patient life context, based on audio recordings of their care, may substantially improve their performance, with measurable benefits for their patients and substantial cost savings.