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2 Harris County Physician Newsletter %u2022 May 2025 %u2022 www.hcms.orgPresident%u2019s PageAll articles that mention HCMS%u2019 stance on state legislation are defined as %u201clegislative advertising,%u201d according to Tex. Gov%u2019t. Code Ann. %u00a7305.027. Executive Vice President Sean Murphy contracts with the printer to publish legislative advertising. Harris County Physician Newsletter (USPS 960-580) is the official monthly publication of Harris County Medical Society, located at 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004-7126, Office 713-524-4267, Fax 713-526-1434, www.hcms.org. Annual subscription price is $20. Periodicals Postage Paid at Houston, TX POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Harris County Physician Newsletter, 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004-7126.The HCMS Physicians%u2019 Hospital Survey is here %u2013 Complete yours TODAYWhat began as a discussion about the challenges medical staff face at area hospitals and how to improve the quality of healthcare for Houston patients has evolved into the HCMS Physicians%u2019 Hospital Survey, where physicians are asked to provide their feedback on local hospitals in an actionable format. HCMS launched the 2025 Physicians%u2019 Hospital Survey, which includes 43 hospitals, on April 27. The survey gives us the opportunity to identify best practices as well as opportunities for improvement. The survey is open to members and nonmembers from Harris County and the surrounding area.A trusted, proven processBuilding on the successful model used in the four past surveys, we have the opportunity to identify a hospital%u2019s best practices and highlight opportunities for improvement.On average, over the past four surveys conducted in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022, 1,800 physicians generated 3,080 evaluations of area hospitals for each survey year. This survey has become a valued, inclusive, and transparent tool, allowing our voices to be heard. This survey mattersYour responses are compared across hospital systems and cover the following categories: quality of medical care, hospital policy and administration, medical staff issues, and electronic medical records. You will answer questions such as: %u2022Are nursing staff levels, supplies, and equipment adequate? %u2022Do electronic medical records in your hospital improve patient care? %u2022Are hospitals addressing physician stress and burnout? %u2022Do management actions show that patient safety is a top priority? %u2022Does the hospital offer opportunities to provide feedback on policies without retribution? %u2022Does the administration have respect for and willingness to collaborate with medical staff?Designed by physicians, for physiciansBut why should you participate? Because this is your working environment. Your responses can directly impact your patients and your relationship with your hospital administration. Additionally, the survey was designed by physicians for physicians and is completely anonymous, unlike some of the surveys conducted by the hospitals themselves. The HCMS Hospital Survey Committee represents physicians from diverse specialties, practice settings, and geographic areas across Houston. We ensure that not only rank-and-file physician staff members are represented in the survey%u2019s development, but we also include former and/or current hospital chiefs of staff to ensure that we have the expertise of physician leaders trained and experienced in medical administration. The survey is paid for by HCMS, and HCMS solely owns the data.We value your feedback We are constantly looking for ways to improve the survey. Feedback on the survey questions is actively solicited from all local area physicians as well as hospital administration. The questions are designed to solicit actionable responses from hospital administration when opportunities for improvement are identified. Of course, HCMS always offers to review results with individual hospitals and systems to ensure the results are understood. In many cases, these discussions result in meaningful changes. For example, in 2024, leaders from Houston Methodist West presented to the HCMS Board how the results of the 2022 Survey were used to enhance physician leadership and wellness initiatives. Other hospitals reported the creation of various collaborative physician/administration task forces to address specific challenges identified in the survey. This demonstrates the impact the survey can have within the hospital systems. We are extremely proud of the collaboration between HCMS and the local hospital systems.Participation drives the survey%u2019s successRemember, the success and value of the Physicians%u2019 Hospital Survey are completely up to you! I strongly encourage you to take the survey. It should take only 10 minutes to complete. Only hospitals with statistically significant responses will be reported. The link to the survey can be found at www.hcms.org. We ask that you encourage colleagues at your hospital(s) to participate. Also, encourage your hospital%u2019s administration to promote the survey to the medical staff. To their credit, most value the feedback and have encouraged their medical staff to participate.Make your voice countThis is a powerful opportunity to partner with HCMS and drive the changes you want to see at your hospital. Don%u2019t wait %u2014 make your voice count now to shape the future and elevate the quality of care at Houston-area hospitals. As always, thank you for your HCMS membership.