In today’s healthcare landscape, understanding patient experience isn’t just about gathering data; it’s about harnessing insights that drive tangible improvements in care delivery. While free online survey providers have been a go-to solution for creating surveys, their limitations in the realm of healthcare can’t be overlooked.

Enter the era of real-time, customizable patient experience surveying with Feedtrail. Our platform is tailored explicitly to the complex needs of healthcare providers, offering a suite of capabilities that go beyond basic survey creation. Moving from a generic online platform to a dynamic surveying platform has several benefits:

Branding: Free online survey providers only allow limited branding options. With Feedtrail, surveys are branded with the organization’s logo. Further, all communication is tailored to your messaging, so patients know the survey is from a trusted source.

Secure Data: As healthcare professionals, we are highly cognizant of how patient data is accessed. Using a tool that is secure and HIPAA compliant is key in obtaining credible feedback.

Question Types: In order to get the data you need, your questions have to be set up to provide the best feedback. You need different question types, answer-dependent questions, the ability to tie questions back to your providers, and more. Limited question types also limit your data.

Time-Sensitivity: While using some online survey tools is convenient, it does not always answer the need to be time-sensitive. If an organization wants the most credible feedback, it is ideal to set up an automated system that uploads and sends surveys at the appropriate intervals to maximize your responses. You also want real time responses so you can perform timely service recovery.

Analytics: With limited data also comes limited ways to analyze your data. Some survey providers restrict the number of responses, and others only provide visualizations for certain kinds of question types. In order to dissect data, having full access to all responses with advanced analytics is key with. Additionally, users often want to export the raw data in order to break it down and drill further into the story the data tells.

Patient experience is more than just learning what your patients have to say. Depending on the organization, patient experience might be tied to your reimbursements or physician incentives. When patient experience speaks to the bottom line, getting it right is important. Canned questions without the ability to follow-up and lacking data analytics can’t progress an organization forward. The goal is to have every patient return and want to recommend your practice or organization. If the patient does not have a good experience, knowing why and if it is a trend is the way to move forward with organizational changes that can drive improvement.

Not only do organizations need to ensure they’re getting enough feedback, they also need to ask the right questions to guide quality improvement projects. Free survey vendors do not ensure the quality of data that would allow an organization to take action in a timely manner. Additionally, free surveys are not going to help you break down demographic information to identify behavior and systematic changes. Ultimately, a vendor who is able to send customized, real-time surveys with identifying data and options for service recovery are the new gold standard.

Embracing Innovation in Patient Experience

The healthcare landscape is evolving, demanding tools that not only collect but also harness data to drive meaningful change. While some free online survey providers served their purpose in general surveys, healthcare providers now seek specialized, real-time customizable platforms that elevate patient experience to new heights. Learn what Feedtrail’s experience management platform can do for your organization.

About Mallory Magelli McKeown, Customer Success: Meet Mallory, a healthcare professional dedicated to improving the patient experience. With a background in roles like chaplain and family advocate, Mallory’s mission is simplifying healthcare for patients and families. From advisory councils to patient advocacy, she amplifies the patient’s voice. At Feedtrail, she redefines the patient-provider relationship, asking vital questions to guide healthcare leaders toward patient-centered changes. Her goal: revolutionizing healthcare by putting patients’ needs first.