Interviews should be conducted by someone who does not know the employees. In addition, the interviewer must ensure there will be complete anonymity. There are firms that specialize in conducting telephone surveys at a reasonable fee. The construction of the survey instrument for employees is as important as the one developed for patients. Identify what it is you want to find out and design questions that will provide the right information.
Employees are sensitive to putting their opinions in writing, as well.
It is for this reason that many practices engage the services of a health care marketing consultant. This information may otherwise be difficult to obtain, and time must be dedicated to analyzing the data and preparing an action plan to expedite strategic planning. All survey responses need to be compiled systematically and analyzed to provide you with tangible results you can act on. Gathering detailed information and staff and patient perceptions is critical to the strategic planning process. A commitment to strategic planning begins with a willingness to look inside the practice with a critical eye.