Homeostasis, as well as the need for change, are best regulated by effective and sensitive ongoing feedback loops.

Running a business or practice is no different. If you need to make optimizing adjustments in your business or practice environment, those are best guided by the continuous input of the end users (patients) as well as the intermediaries (staff).

It isn't easy picking the right tool to get the feedback that is useful and meaningful and actionable.

The online HowsYourHealth feedback survey, developed at Dartmouth Medical School, is one that has been tested extensively in practice to evaluate quality of care for the "whole patient".

Instead of focusing merely on metrics such as BP, cholesterol levels and HgbA1C, this survey tool probes for ease of access, delays in being able to get care, time spent waiting in the office, financial concerns, problems with pain, emotional issues and likelihood of future health problems.

More subtle information comes in the form of whether patients have all the information they need to manage their own health, as well as having the confidence to actually use the information provided (self-efficacy).

Where this information proves useful is that a well-informed, self-efficacious patient has been shown over and over to have better health outcomes, such as fewer sick days, fewer episode of ER care, and improved bio-metrics (the BP, cholesterol and HgbA1C I mentioned above!).

How reliable is patient self-reporting? you may ask.

Well, here's what the website has to say:

"Is Self-Report Information Reliable?

Several studies compare medical records with patient report for preventive interventions (such as mammograms, bowel cancer screening, immunizations) and generally find 80% or greater agreement."

Costing $200 for up to 3000 users per office or practice passcode (that you distribute to your patients), this seems a modest fee for invaluable strategic information to help you tailor your practice to meet the needs AND provide excellent care. After all, the best businesses provide services and products that almost exactly match the customer's perceived or as yet unrecognized need!

Isn't it time you found out exactly how to push your practice to the top of the competitive heap, by discovering where you could make significant improvements in medical care and customer service?