MHQP Cancels 2020 Patient Experience Survey Due to Impact of Pandemic

(April 2020)

MHQP will not be fielding our annual survey assessing patient experiences in primary care this spring because of the COVID-19 outbreak. This was a difficult decision to make but one that we feel is right, given the current stress on our healthcare system. We are optimistic that we will resume fielding the survey again next year.

MHQP’s survey is the only publicly-reported statewide survey of patient experiences with primary care in Massachusetts. Providers and health plans throughout the state depend on the survey for critical information that drives reimbursement calculations and quality improvement efforts each year. However, these are not normal times and we have come to the conclusion that fielding a survey now would be both impractical and insensitive to the current realities.

Overnight, the COVID-19 outbreak has led to significant changes in primary care practices, including practice closures, employee furloughs and increased use of telemedicine. These changes have significantly impacted patient access to care and ultimately patient experiences of care. The level of disruption for providers and patients has only accelerated in recent weeks and is currently at unprecedented levels. Now is not the time to conduct a survey of this magnitude.

We send our deepest gratitude to everyone battling this pandemic on the front lines of healthcare in Massachusetts and throughout the country.

If you have any questions about MHQP’s annual statewide patient experience survey, please contact Amy Stern at astern@mhqp.org.

Thank you and please stay safe.