Patient surveys.

Clinicians continuously gather patient-related information. Histories and physicals, vital signs, lab results, and behavioral descriptions are all part of standard care. In recent years it has also proven advantageous to gather information regarding patient knowledge and satisfaction with the care they receive at our ambulatory and inpatient settings. This article reviews the process of conducting patient surveys throughout the continuum of care. Both the timing of the survey and the format are described in Table 1.