For Hub City Times

MARSHFIELD — In the interest of patient experience and public transparency, Marshfield Clinic now shares provider scores based on patient surveys publicly at marshfieldclinic.org.

Marshfield Clinic is one of only a few health care organizations in the U.S. to share Press Ganey patient-based provider scores publicly.

Providers receive a score on a 1-5 scale derived from the “care provider section” of medical practice surveys. The data is on the provider’s profile at marshfieldclinic.org.

“This initiative allows us to build trust with the individuals and communities we serve,” said Dr. Brandon Parkhurst, patient experience medical director, Marshfield Clinic Institute for Quality, Innovation & Patient Safety. “This valuable information for patients will help the clinic help patients select providers who meet their needs.”

Some providers may not have a star rating if they have fewer than 30 returned surveys over a 12-month period. Only providers who are surveyed using the medical practice survey have a star rating. Urgent care, hospitalist, dental, outpatient services, or ambulatory surgery providers use different surveys.

Patients have given Marshfield Clinic providers high grades over the past year. Of the 585 providers with star ratings, more than 91 percent have received a rating of 4.5 or higher.

Star ratings are the first step in showing the clinic’s patient-centered focus. Patient comments will be added to provider online profiles later this year.

“Patient experience is as vital to patients as the world-class health care we provide,” said Marshfield Clinic Executive Director Dr. Narayana Murali. “Public transparency gives honest feedback from patients to people who are considering the health care we provide. For nearly 100 years, Marshfield Clinic has been a leader in providing high quality health care, research, and education. Publicly available provider scores is the next step in continuing into a second century of excellence.”