Some 75,000 surveys mailed in January to people who recently had completed health care appointments at one of some 2,100 clinics in military treatment facilities nationwide revealed higher satisfaction rates than those recorded for civilian patients visiting civilian physicians. Those surveyed included service members, military spouses and parents of children who completed appointments. The 17-question survey gauged satisfaction levels for medical care, access, quality of care and interpersonal relationships. Besides answering the questions, respondents can add comments on a separate sheet of paper.
Nobody surveyed is identified in any report or release of survey information.
Military treatment facilities will receive data from the survey they can use to measure their program against other clinics and make improvements. We want to know what they think of the treatment they received, their provider and the facility. We need this information to improve the system. For each particpating clinic, about 35 outpatients a month will get surveys, explained Bob Opsut, director of program review and evaluation for DoD health affairs. Opsut, whose office administers the survey, said he's aware people may get tired of completing surveys they receive from health and other DoD agencies as well as from commercial and private sources.