Kaiser Permanente Northwest will be publishing online patient ratings of its more than 1,300 physicians, making it the first Oregon physician group, and one of only a few providers nationwide, to share the information with consumers.
The medical group’s new site, Kaiser Permanente Real Reviews, can be found at kp.org/doctorreviews/nw.
Kaiser said in an announcement that the resource “is designed to provide transparency to members and prospective members as they seek information about physicians online.”
“We know patients have choices, and often turn to the Internet for information about health care and physicians,” said Imelda Dacones, chief executive officer and executive medical director of Northwest Permanente, Kaiser Permanente’s physician group. “We want to give them the most thorough and accurate picture possible as they make important decisions about which providers they’ll choose. We have used Press Ganey reviews in our practice for years to improve our care, and now we think it is time we shared them openly with our patients.”
Kaiser said its physician ratings were based on answers patients provide in response to an independent after-visit survey by Press Ganey, a national patient satisfaction survey firm. Surveys are sent weekly to a random sample of patients following their medical visits.
People will be able to see each physician’s rating (based on a five-star system) and comments. The website also has doctors’ biographies and information about specialties, training and certifications.
Kaiser Permanente’s nonprofit health plan has more than 10 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia, including more than 520,000 medical and 240,000 dental members in Oregon and Southwest Washington.