Dr. Joseph Maroon, like all physicians in the UPMC Health System, receives monthly anonymous reports of his patient’s satisfaction survey results.  The individual health care provider results are used internally within the Health System and are a common tool used by most US hospitals.  UPMC Health System also generates patient surveys that are used to determine the perspectives of their patients healthcare experience and  overall quality of care.  Additionally, since 2012, hospital reimbursement in the US is tied to a certain amount of funding from Medicare payments based on survey results. This Medicare program allows the government to withhold 2 % of all Medicare hospital payments to create a pool of money to be used to reward hospitals who provide high-quality health care, and is determined based on how they perform on a standardized patient survey.

Here is an example of some of the patient survey questions about their physician visit:

Rate Provider on a scale of 1-10
Recommend Provider or not
Provider Communication:

• Provider explains in a way you understand
• Provider listens carefully to you
• Easy to understand info. about concerns
• Provider knows important medical history
• Provider shows respect
• Provider spends enough time with you

In the past month, Dr. Maroon’ patient survey results ending in December 2021, showed Dr. Maroon’s patients survey responses were 100%. This indicates the highest possible response, or a 10 score, for each question.  For the year, Dr. Maroon’s average response is 98.75%, again indicating the vast majority scored a 10 to the survey questions.  These high results are not new to Dr. Maroon, nor for the other neurosurgeons in the Department of Neurosurgery at UPMC.  UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside is nationally ranked in neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2020 to 2021.

“It has always been my pleasure and desire to help others, stated Dr. Maroon. I’m glad my patient’s are satisfied with their experience.  The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that personal interactions, whether virtually or in person, by a caring physician can help both the mind and body.  I believe that the patients who I see agree that a physician being  truly engaged in their care is critical to improving their health and fostering a recovery.”