Supplemental Item Topics for the CAHPS Hospital Survey
This page lists the topics and supplemental items available for use with the Adult version of the CAHPS Hospital Survey (HCAHPS). Adult HCAHPS is implemented nationally by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). However, use of these supplemental items is not part of the national implementation requirements. To learn more about HCAHPS and its implementation by CMS, visit www.hcahpsonline.org.
Version: Adult
Topic: Health Literacy
For more information about these supplemental items, read About the CAHPS® Health Literacy Item Set for Hospitals (PDF, 291 KB)
Subtopic: Information About Medications
- H-HL1. Staff asked patient to describe how patient would take medications at home
- H-HL2. Staff told patient who to call if patient had questions about medications
Subtopic: Communication Between Nurses and Patients
- H-HL3. Nurses hard to understand because of the way they spoke patient’s language
- H-HL4. Nurses used medical words patient did not understand
- H-HL5. Nurses talked too fast
- H-HL6. Nurses interrupted patient
- H-HL7. Nurses answered all questions to patient’s satisfaction
- H-HL8. Nurses used condescending, sarcastic, or rude tone or manner with patient
- H-HL9. Nurses cared about patient as a person
Subtopic: Communication Between Doctors and Patients
- H-HL10. Doctors hard to understand because of the way they spoke patient’s language
- H-HL11. Doctors used medical words patient did not understand
- H-HL12. Doctors talked too fast
- H-HL13. Doctors used pictures, drawings models, or videos to explain things
- H-HL14. Doctors interrupted patient
- H-HL15. Doctors answered all questions to patient’s satisfaction
- H-HL16. Doctors made sure patient understood all information
- H-HL17. Doctors used condescending, sarcastic, or rude tone or manner with patient
- H-HL18. Doctors cared about patient as a person
Subtopic: Communication About Tests
- H-HL19. Patient had a blood test, x-ray, or other test
- H-HL20. Hospital staff explained what a blood test, x-ray, or other test was for
- H-HL21. Explanation of blood test, x-ray, or other test was easy to understand
- H-HL22. Hospital staff explained blood test, x-ray, or other test results to patient
- H-HL23. Blood test, x-ray, or other test results were easy to understand
Subtopic: Communication About Forms
- H-HL24. Patient had to sign forms
- H-HL25. Staff explained the purpose of a form before patient signed it
- H-HL26. Patient had to fill out forms
- H-HL27. Staff offered patient help in filling out a form
- H-HL28. Forms were easy for patient to fill out
- H-HL29. Patient was given enough time to fill out forms
- H-HL30. Patient needed forms in a language other than English
- H-HL31. Forms were available in patient’s language
Subtopic: Information About How To Care for Yourself at Home
- H-HL32. Patient went to own home, someone else’s home, or another health facility
- H-HL33. Staff give patient a telephone number to call if patient had problems after leaving hospital
- H-HL34. Staff told patient how to take care of self at home
- H-HL35. Information from hospital staff about taking care of self at home was easy to understand
- H-HL36. Patient received instructions in writing about how to take care of self at home
- H-HL37. Written instructions about how to take care of self at home were easy to understand
- H-HL38. Patient needed instructions about how to take care of self at home in a language other than English
- H-HL39. Instructions about how to take care of self at home were available in patient’s language
Review the full item wording, response options, and instruction. (Supplemental Health Literacy Items for HCAHPS: English: Word [
- 38.44 KB]; Spanish: Word [ - 50 KB])
Topic: Interpreter Services
- H-IN1. Preferred language
- H-IN2. Needed interpreter
- H-IN3. Staff told patient about right to free interpreter services
- H-IN4. Patient had interpreter at hospital when needed
- H-IN5. Patient used friend or family member as interpreter
- H-IN6. Rating of interpreter
- H-IN7. Waited 15 minutes or longer for help from hospital interpreter
- H-IN8. Patient used friend or family member as interpreter (same as H-IN5)
- H-IN9. Patient used child younger than 18 as interpreter
- H-IN10.Patient used friends or family members as interpreters because that was what patient preferred
Review the full item wording, response options, and instruction. (Supplemental Interpreter Services Items for HCAHPS: English: Word [34 KB]; Spanish: Word [31 KB])
