Customer Satisfaction Program For California Optometrists
Special E-Mail Bulletin
The following news item appeared on the wire services July 29th. With providers and organizations scrambling to find ways to differentiate themselves one from the other, this is yet another example of creative thought "outside the box." ValueStar has made a major push in Northern California to establish itself as "the" credible consumer rating service. It will be interesting to see if that can successfully translate to patient satisfaction with eyecare services. And it will be interesting to see if California managed care organizations give weight to and utilize the results.
ALAMEDA, Calif. (BW HealthWire) - July 28,1998--
ValueStar, the leading provider of customer satisfaction ratings of service and professional businesses, is initiating patient satisfaction ratings of California Optometric Association (COA) members who represent more than 60% of licensed, practicing optometrists in California. This "first" in the California healthcare community is expected to assist optometrists who achieve the ValueStar Certification in significantly differentiating themselves in patient satisfaction and provide valuable statistical information that is looked upon favorably by Health Maintenance Organizations.
ValueStar Corporation (NASDAQ:VSTR), the leading provider of customer satisfaction ratings of service and professional businesses, today joined with the California Optometric Association (COA) in announcing an agreement to begin the process of rating patient satisfaction.
The COA, an affiliate of the American Optometric Association, is one of the largest organized communities for optometrists in the nation and is embarking upon its centennial year of service.
""The California Optometric Association is looking forward to a long relationship with ValueStar. We are confident that our affiliation with ValueStar will be of great benefit to the public in making one of the most important choices about eye care that an individual can make -- choosing a Doctor of Optometry as their eye care provider," stated Rick T. Iwai, O.D., president of the COA.
Jim Stein, Managing Director of ValueStar is encouraged. "This is a significant event for consumers and the healthcare community.
"For the first time, a California healthcare group is addressing patient satisfaction as a method of aiding the public in selecting their optometrist and in the process, gathering the important information health maintenance organizations frequently request on patient experience."
In order for an optometrist to earn the ValueStar Certification, each must apply for the ValueStar Certification and pass all four steps. The process begins by ValueStar surveying a random sample of 100 past patients from the optometrists entire patient list.
A numerical rating is calculated from this customer survey. Only if the optometrist obtains very good patient satisfaction rating are they considered for ValueStar certification. In addition, ValueStar checks complaint bureau records, License Verification and Insurance Coverage.
Popular among consumers and quality professions and businesses in Northern California, ValueStar has been rating Northern California services and professionals since 1992. It has also just this month announced its expansion into Los Angeles and Orange County California.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996: Statements in this news release looking forward in time involve risks and uncertainties, including the risks associated with the effect of changing economic conditions, trends in the service and professionals business markets, variations in the Company's sales rates, renewal rates, cash flow, market acceptance risks, and other risk factors. For More Information: Stephen N. Anderson/ Six Sigma 415/776-6499.
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