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?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
How to Answer
Answer Example

Patient satisfaction surveys are commonplace in any healthcare institution and are put in place to ensure that the best possible care is provided to every patient of the institution. During your time in PICU Fellowship training, the families of your patients will fill out satisfaction surveys about your performance, and your team of interviewers poses this question to understand how you will take constructive feedback and learn from it.

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 feedback, analyze it, and use it as motivation to improve the care you provide. 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. If you have any experience with patient feedback surveys during your time in Pediatrics Residency, don't hesitate to talk about that experience.

"I was faced with this situation as a Pediatrics Resident, and I didn't let it get me down. I saw it as an opportunity to improve. The family 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 a turning point in my approach to patients and families, and I appreciated the feedback. I would take the same approach to patient surveys at your institution."

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How to Answer: 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?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a PICU Fellowship job interview.

5. 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?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Patient satisfaction surveys are commonplace in any healthcare institution and are put in place to ensure that the best possible care is provided to every patient of the institution. During your time in PICU Fellowship training, the families of your patients will fill out satisfaction surveys about your performance, and your team of interviewers poses this question to understand how you will take constructive feedback and learn from it.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 10th, 2022

How to Answer

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 feedback, analyze it, and use it as motivation to improve the care you provide. 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. If you have any experience with patient feedback surveys during your time in Pediatrics Residency, don't hesitate to talk about that experience.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 10th, 2022

Answer Example

"I was faced with this situation as a Pediatrics Resident, and I didn't let it get me down. I saw it as an opportunity to improve. The family 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 a turning point in my approach to patients and families, and I appreciated the feedback. I would take the same approach to patient surveys at your institution."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 10th, 2022

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