36 S.Afr.J.Bus.Manage.2004,35(4)
According to Table 5 patients are also more likely to return
to a hospital (loyalty) if they perceive the fees that they are
charged as fair, reasonable and good value for the money
paid (fees), and if, when they have access to a TV service in
the wards, this service functions effectively. Hospital
managers must thus ensure that patients are not overcharged,
that they receive an itemised account and even, when
necessary, provide a justification or an explanation for
exceptional charges. Furthermore, it appears as if patients
regard a functional TV service as ‘a given’ and care must be
taken to ensure that the service is always functional and that
a back-up TV or repair staff are available to ensure an
uninterrupted service.
Table 6 confirms that the same transaction-specific
dimensions also impact on Cumulative satisfaction, except
for the TV service. In other words, patients who report high
levels of satisfaction with the meals provided, satisfaction
with the nursing staff and satisfaction with the fees paid,
will besides remaining Loyal to the hospital, also report high
levels of satisfaction with the service encountered.
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