Mandatory Surveys Measure Quality, Integrity of Independent Rehab Therapists


(Calabasas, Calif. – January 15, 2007) – Providers at PTPN, the country’s first and largest network of independent rehabilitation therapists, received an “A” on their patient satisfaction report card. According to the latest data from the PTPN Patient Satisfaction Surveys, providers earned a composite patient satisfaction score of 95.4 out of 100.

“Patient satisfaction data is both a valuable tool for assessing the quality of health care and a key measure in pay-for-performance systems,” said PTPN President Michael Weinper, MPH, PT. “It’s crucial that providers demonstrate the efficacy of their treatment to insurers, employers, accrediting bodies, and patients themselves. These stakeholders are increasingly using patient-centered outcomes and satisfaction measures to select and even compensate providers.”

In a recent PTPN survey of health plan executives, employers and other payers, 100 percent said that quality control oversight was very important or important in choosing a rehabilitation network. “Until now it’s been difficult to measure quality,” said Weinper, “but one way to do that is to measure patient satisfaction — an intrinsic element of quality. Our network includes only the most highly qualified therapists, and our patient satisfaction results prove that point.”

The PTPN Patient Satisfaction Survey Program is an integral part of PTPN’s Quality Assurance Program, and participation in the survey process is a requirement of PTPN membership.

“The patient satisfaction survey is just one of the ways we ensure that our providers are delivering the right care in the right environment,” said PTPN Quality Assurance Director Mitchel Kaye, PT. “Every PTPN member office is required to conduct regular confidential patient satisfaction

surveys. In addition to allowing us to quantify the quality and integrity of PTPN providers, the data helps individual offices to determine the strengths and opportunities for growth in each office.”

The PTPN Patient Satisfaction Survey measures such indicators as treatment effectiveness, therapists’ knowledge and helpfulness, home program compliance, office cleanliness, office staff courtesy, and scheduling convenience.

Particularly notable are the results for the following individual survey items (scored on a scale of 1 to 10):

	Treatment was beneficial:	9.5
	Therapy staff was professional & knowledgeable:	9.8
	Front office staff was courteous & helpful:	9.7
	Able to schedule appointments at convenient times:	9.5
	Seen within 15 minutes of scheduled appointment:	9.7
	Clinic was neat & clean:	9.6
	Would recommend this facility to friends & family:	9.8

About PTPN: PTPN is the nation’s first and largest network of rehabilitation therapists in private practice. It has led the rehabilitation industry in pioneering national contracting and quality assurance programs since 1985. The network has more than 1,200 provider offices (including 5,000 physical, occupational and speech therapists) in 23 states. PTPN contracts with most major managed care organizations, including insurers, workers’ compensation companies, PPOs, HMOs, medical groups and IPAs. Only offices that are owned and operated by rehabilitation therapists can be members of the network.

For more information about PTPN, contact Stephen Moore at (818) 737-0246 or smoore@ptpn.com or visit PTPN on the Internet at: www.PTPN.com.