A recent patient survey comes back, and you find out that you did not meet a patient's expectations as their physician. What are the next steps you would take to improve as a Cardiology Fellow in training?

If you were to ask any physician if they have ever received critical feedback on a patient survey, the answer would be a resounding yes. The goal in answering this question is to demonstrate to your interviewers that you can take the feedback, analyze it, and use it as motivation to improve the care you provide moving forward. Keep in mind that most patient feedback is anonymous, and you may not be able to pinpoint the exact interaction that resulted in the feedback from the patient.

"I was faced with this situation as an Internal Medicine Resident and I didn't let it get me down. Our administrator approached me and I saw it as an opportunity to improve. The patient that submitted the feedback anonymously said that my approach was not personal. I took the time to analyze the feedback and remember which patient encounter it came from. It was really a turning point for me in the approach I now take with patients and appreciated the feedback in the end. I would take the same approach with patient surveys at your institution."

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