Geisinger has a long tradition of sharing our performance with the patients we serve. Our OpenNotes Program, for example, was one of the first in the nation to allow patients access to their doctors’ notes right from home.

In that same spirit, Geisinger is now among the first dozen health systems in the nation to post online physician ratings and consumer comments that have been gleaned from actual patient surveys.

By visiting Geisinger.org and going to the “Find a Provider” section, the public can view a Geisinger physician’s profile and a five-star ratings report. Consumers can find out how a doctor rated on several categories including friendliness and courtesy, concern for a patient’s worries and the likelihood a patient would recommend that doctor.

Patients benefit from this effort by seeing what their friends and neighbors say about physicians and other providers, including physician assistants and nurse practitioners. The information is honest and complete. Using clinic surveys, mailed monthly to thousands of Geisinger patients, we are able to provide these star ratings that might remind some of Angie’s List. Patient comments, both good and bad, are also there for everyone to see.

This is a tremendous step in the direction of true “transparent” health care, allowing patients a greater choice as they make crucial decisions for themselves and those they love.

As a practicing physician, I can attest that doctors take any positive or negative feedback they receive to heart. And in my role as Geisinger’s chief patient experience officer, know that my team and I are dedicated to making this commitment to transparency succeed. We firmly believe that the “voice of the patient” must be heard in order to improve the critical work we do. Our goal is to make sure each and every patient is treated with respect and compassion.

The Geisinger family of employees is privileged to care for you and your family. By sharing our physician and provider score cards – as rated by you, our patients – we are striving to make it easier for you to choose the right professional for your individual medical needs.

If you click on a provider’s name and don’t see a star rating or accompanying comments, know that it’s because that physician has too few survey results or does not see patients in clinic or might not be employed by Geisinger. Also, a very small number of comments are edited or removed if they contain private health information or offensive language.

At Geisinger, we’re steadfast in serving as the best health care system in the country based on the quality of care we deliver and how our patients experience that care. Human relationships are at the core of our mission and the relationship between a patient and their physician is built on a sacred trust. That’s why we find it so important that Geisinger hears the voice of our patients loud and clear.

Now you can, too.

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Dr. Greg F. Burke

Contributing Columnist

Dr. Greg F. Burke is an internal medicine physician and serves as the chief patient experience officer for Geisinger Health System.