“We talk about patient-centered care, but if we don’t listen to the patient, how can we possibly build a system that is patient centered?” asks Barbra Rabson, executive director of the Massachusetts Health Quality Partners.

Getting busy physicians to participate in continuing medical education is almost impossible unless they think material is practical for them. It also helps if some of it is mandatory.

Not only are a majority of physicians stressed, but the negative trend is getting worse. And compounding the problem is the fact that few feel they could get help from work to deal with the stress.

There are many benefits to physicians using patient satisfaction surveys, but perhaps none more important than where new products or treatment protocols are being provided.

Negative online reviews do happen, and physicians need to know not only how to minimize their impact, but how or even if they should respond.