When you assign a Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO), the patient starts receiving a short check-in survey every two weeks. Completion rates rise sharply when you tell the patient what is coming before they leave the visit. This article gives you a 30 second framing you can use at episode setup, plus variations for different patients and the facts to share if they ask.
A proactive introduction works better than waiting for the patient to have questions later. The goal is to make the survey feel like part of their care rather than extra paperwork.
The three topics to cover
Keep the introduction brief, warm, and clinical. Three short topics cover everything the patient needs.
- Name it clinically. Call it a short check-in survey that is part of their care. For example: "As part of your program, I'll send you a short check-in survey every two weeks."
- Connect it to their care. Explain that their answers shape what you do next. For example: "Your answers help me see how you're progressing and adjust your program if something isn't working."
- Preview the cadence. Set the rhythm and remove the pressure. For example: "It takes a few minutes on your phone. If you miss one, no problem, you'll get a reminder and can finish it whenever works for you."
A sample introduction
If you cover all three topics above, the conversation with the patient will sound natural in about 20 seconds:
Say something like
"As part of your program, I'll be sending you a short check-in survey every two weeks. It only takes a few minutes and asks how you're feeling: your pain, what you're able to do, how things are going overall. You can answer it on your phone wherever's convenient. These responses help me see how you're progressing and adjust your program if something isn't working. If you ever miss one, no problem, you'll get a reminder, and you can complete it whenever it works for you."
Adapt to the patient in front of you
Adjust the emphasis to fit who is in the room.
The anxious patient
Lead with reassurance.
"There are no wrong answers. It just tells me how you're really doing between visits."
The skeptical patient
Make the payoff concrete.
"This is how I'll know if we need to change anything, so your time here counts."
The rushed visit
One sentence is enough.
"You'll get a quick survey by text every two weeks. It helps me track your progress."
The facts, if they ask
| Question | What to tell them |
|---|---|
| How often? | Every 14 days while the episode is active. Some Pathways programs add weekly measures. |
| How will I be notified? | By text message (from 21097) or email (from noreply@medbridge.com), with a maximum of one message per episode per day. |
| Can I control it? | Yes. Text STOP to 21097 to pause messages and START to resume. Reminder time and type can be adjusted in account settings. |
Tip
Set the PRO at episode creation whenever possible. A baseline captured up front is what every later assessment is measured against, and introducing it during that first conversation is the most natural moment to set expectations.
Ready to assign your first Outcome?
See the step-by-step walkthrough for setting a measure on an episode.