By Aine Cryts
In the next four to five years, physician practices of all sizes will likely be required to survey patients, so they should get ready now, reports Medscape.
Patient surveys are already required for practices with 100 or more providers--and this data must be shared with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Practices involved with a Pioneer or Medicare Shared Savings Program accountable care organization also have to survey patients every six months, according to the article.
Here are four considerations when soliciting patient feedback, according to the article:
Capture feedback to drive improvement. Ask for feedback about wait times and how well patients understood what their doctor told them about their diagnosis, for example. After making changes, thank patients and educate them about the changes you've implemented as a direct result of their feedback.
Realize the pros and cons of web-based surveys. While allowing patients to do surveys online leads to higher response rates, CMS and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality won't accept surveys conducted online and by email.
Pay for postage for mailed surveys. If you don't provide a stamp, patients won't do the survey, Kenneth T. Hertz, principal consultant at the MGMA Healthcare Consulting Group, told Medscape. "How many people keep postage stamps in the house these days? I pay all my bills online."
Keep surveys simple and monitor trends. Make it easy for patients to complete the surveys. And practices need only survey patients a couple of times a year to monitor trends and make necessary interventions, according to the article.
To learn more:
- read the article