Doctor 360°
Remote Patient Feedback Tools
Whilst the GMC has allowed the deferral of Revalidations until March 2021, we have noticed that many of our clients are persevering with appraisal schedules and continuing to gather the supporting information required for them. Patient Feedback Reports are still a key requirement, despite the majority of patient consultations now taking place remotely. In November 2020, the GMC will be publishing new guidance on the collection of patient feedback. However, please be assured that the GMC have confirmed to us that this guidance:
Will not require doctors (or providers) to take a significantly different approach to seeking patient feedback for revalidation than they do now. The changes we proposed in our consultation document were mainly around allowing more flexibility in how doctors can seek feedback from patients (not having to use a specific questionnaire) and ensuring feedback systems meet the needs of patients (e.g. allowing different ways to give feedback).
Edgecumbe Doctor 360 held a Remote Patient Feedback Forum in August 2020, to try to ascertain from clients the main issues and possible solutions for overcoming obstacles to collecting patient feedback. Thank you very much to all who attended the session; it was very insightful for us and gave a significant steer on what were viable and not-so-helpful solutions.
Please read the following main points from the Forum, an important update from the GMC and a list of solutions or ‘aids’ that we can now offer in response to that discussion.
Issues reported from medical organisations
Until March 2020, Doctor 360 Patient Feedback was almost always collected using paper questionnaires. However, staff at medical organisations now have very little face-to-face contact with patients, due to a steep rise in remote consultations and a big drop in outpatient appointments and clinics. The outcome is that the volume of patient feedback being collected has reduced significantly.
Our response
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the issue of achieving as high a response rate for remote patient feedback as for the paper-based method. However, we’ve thought about how we can help and encourage clients to obtain feedback from patients beyond the clinics and surgeries.