Referring Physician Survey Results

MADISON - Thank you for participating in the 2008 Referral MD Satisfaction Survey.

UW Health would like to thank each of you who participated in the UW Health 2008 Referring MD Survey in February 2008. UW Health, as a teaching, research, tertiary and quaternary patient referral center is committed to providing services and programs that support the needs of our regional physicians and their patients.

The survey is important because it gives us direction and feedback on how we can improve and best meet the needs of you and your staff. In the future, we will be dedicating space in each issue of Medical Directions to keep you updated on action plans and projects that have been created as a result of the survey.

In the 2008 survey, regional physicians identified key factors that determine patient referrals to UW Health:

• Health insurance coverage
• UW Health physicians' expertise and reputation
• Physician-to-physician relationships
• Patient preference

UW Health is committed to focus its efforts and priorities in each of these key areas to remain your choice of partner in providing care to your patients.

The survey also identifies the following areas of greatest impact on the satisfaction of referring physicians:

• Ease of arranging appointments
• Timeliness of communication
• Clarity and consistency of communication

In the 2008 survey, UW Health scored statistically above the benchmark in all three key areas. The UW Access Center, UW Health's 1-800, 24/7 physician referral service was also rated consistently high. The Access Center is a prime example of listening and acting on the advice of our regional physicians by creating a service that makes it easier for regional physicians to connect to UW Health physicians, transfer patients and make appointments to services, programs and specialists at UW Health. To use the Access Center, call 800-472-0111.

While we appreciate your feedback, we know that there are still opportunities for improvement in other aspects of the referral process. One such improvement will involve outpatient appointment scheduling via FAX rather than a phone call. We are currently in the pilot stage and will be rolling out the new process in the next several months. Your liaison will be working with your office when the process is ready for implementation to give you the information on the new options for referring to UW Health.

The UW Health Physician Liaison Program

In the 2008 Survey, physicians were asked about their interaction with UW Health physician liaisons over the past year. The physicians rated their satisfaction with the liaison program as a highly-valued, effective service. The type of information and notifications that referring physicians would most like to receive from the UW Health physician liaisons are:

• CME programs
• Physician directories
• Making a referral/accessing services
• New technologies and treatments
• Current clinical trials
• New MD announcements
• Patient education opportunities/materials
• Arranging opportunities to connect with UW Health specialists

The UW physician liaisons continue to serve as the face of UW Health and as an advocate and extension of your health care team. In early 2009, the liaisons will be visiting your offices with the new 2009/2010 Referring Physician Directories and information about the new outpatient appointment scheduling process.

If you would like a visit or information on services and programs available at UW Health, please do not hesitate to contact the Liaison Program Office at (608) 262-5151.

Physician Liaison Contact Information:

Office:
635 Science Drive, Suite 100
6Madison, WI 53711

Judy Anderson
Director of Provider Advocacy Program
Office: (608) 890-8534
Cell: (608) 279-1311
janderson3@uwhealth.org  

Maureen Meyer
Physician Liaison
Office: (608) 263-6189
Cell: (608) 516-7022
mmeyer@uwhealth.org  
Territory: Dodge, Jefferson, Green, Dane, Iowa, Richland, Grant, Lafayette Counties; Janesville, WI; Dubuque, IA

Mark Geiger
Physician Liaison
Office: (608) 265-8103
Cell: (608) 516-7023
mgeiger@uwhealth.org
Territory: Brown, Outagamie, Winnebago, Fond Du Lac, Green Lake, Columbia, Marquette, Sauk, Juneau, Adams and Marathon Counties; LaCrosse, WI

Paul Johnson
Physician Liaison
Office: (608) 262-4026
Cell: (608) 516-7021
pkjohnson@uwhealth.org
Territory: Walworth County; Beloit, WI; Northern Illinois