Examining Healthcare Shops

Healthcare mystery shopping is a growing portion of the mystery shopping industry. But it's also uncharted territory for a lot of shoppers. Below Jodi Manfredi, president of Examine Your Practice (http://www.examineyourpractice.com/) explains the ins and outs. With so much info, we couldn't fit it in one post...check back later this week for Part 2!

How Do I Find a Medical Mystery Shopping Assignment?

I take several calls a week from shoppers that have applied to our database asking “how can I accept a shop? I don’t see any assignments.” Most companies that specialize in healthcare do not self-assign shops. We may, however, use the same resources as the retail mystery shopping companies. You will see posts on the MSPA job board, Job Slinger, and various sites the scheduling companies may use for posting. We will search our database first, reviewing the writing sample very carefully. Most healthcare shops require extensive narratives, and the shopper’s writing skills are essential to our selection process.

Do I Have To Be Certified?

No, but we do look for Silver and Gold certified shoppers first. We’ve noticed that those who have taken the MSPA certification courses exhibit excellent writing and observation skills. We have also found they have the highest level of professionalism and have proven to be extremely responsible and reliable.

I Have Been Chosen For a Healthcare Shop, What Can I Expect Next?

You will be required to sign a shopper agreement that includes strict confidentiality and release of liability. (We really don’t want you to sue our doctors; it’s bad for business....)You will receive an email with pertinent information regarding an instructional call. You may receive instructions for several different types of shops ranging from phone shops to an actual visit to a doctor’s office or hospital. The length of the call will be determined by the complexity of the shop. We will also provide detailed written guidelines with the assignment. We will review all the details of your particular assignment and our legal obligation to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We encourage shoppers to ask questions whether it is a conference training or individual call.

Check back in a day or so for part 2 of this "examination" of healthcare mystery shopping.