Surveys. I Get Surveys. (Subtitle: Be Careful What You Ask For)

A while back, I got a survey from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). It wanted "feedback" on my experience as a "rural" Pediatrician. To what I think was my immense credit (since I've been sued - unsuccessfully - for providing "confidential" feedback before"), I did not throw it away. I put it in my briefcase and thought I'd eventually get around to it.

When I finally did pull it out (during a rare slow spell at work), I shrugged and said to myself, "What's the ^&%$ point?". I put it back in my briefcase.

Today I got an e-mail from the AAP:

October 2007

Dear Rural Pediatrician:

You have been selected to participate in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Community Pediatrics (COCP) Rural Health Special Interest Group’s national survey of rural pediatricians.

Please follow this link to complete the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=KQoD4kekKzmMrinZ5Ezq_2bg_3d_3d

A paper version of this survey was mailed to you recently that asked about changing trends in both rural child healthcare in the US and the demographics and needs of rural pediatricians. We realize that some might find an online survey more convenient to complete than a mailed paper survey. Therefore, we are also making the survey available to you online, which should take 15-20 minutes to complete.

Be assured that all response will remain anonymous and confidential. No attempt will be made to connect your responses with your practice or institution. Only aggregate statistics, such as percentages, will be released publicly.

This online survey does not collect any identifying information about you. The company which hosts the survey, SurveyMonkey.com, does not retain the address (IP address) of your computer – most Internet Service Providers such as AOL and MSN provide temporary IP addressed for the time that you are connected – to be used, according to their privacy policy (http://www.surveymonkey.com/privacy.asp), only in aggregate to determine what other web sites refer the most people to SurveyMonkey.com.

This survey was reviewed and approved by the AAP Institutional Review Board.

If you prefer to complete a paper survey, simply disregard this email and complete the print version that you should have already received. In appreciation of your time in responding to this survey, you will be entered into a drawing where 100 respondents will receive a $20 Barnes & Noble gift card that can be redeemed in-person at a store or at Barnes & Noble’s online store. Responses will be tracked only to enter your name in the drawing.

We appreciate your feedback and assistance in helping the COCP and Rural Health SIG better address the unique needs of rural pediatricians.

If you have any questions about the Council on Community Pediatrics, the Rural Health SIG, or this survey, please feel free to contact Regina Shaefer, MPH, Manager, Council on Community Pediatrics at 800-433-9016, ext 4787 or e-mail to rshaefer@aap.org.

Please complete the survey by October 15, 2007.

Sincerely,

Regina M. Shaefer, MPHManager
Council on Community Pediatrics
Division of Community-based Initiatives
American Academy of Pediatrics

Here's my response to the e-mail:

Regina,

I got your survey. And I briefly toyed with filling it out. But I see no point.

Instead please consider this link: http://drjshousecalls.blogspot.com/2007/01/what-duke-boys-and-asheboro-nc.html It's from the sidebar on my personal web-blog. It tells the story (the "long version") of my horrific experience as a Pediatrician in public service (via the NHSC AND the NC Office of Rural Health) in a "rural" area . . . my hometown to be precise.

I was brutalized by the greedy, lying misogynists who run my hometown hospital. And I have not been able to get ANY of my so-called "advocacy" organizations (including the APP . . . which does not "do" individual advocacy) to care.

You see, on top of everything else, I was once sued (unsuccessfully) for providing "feedback" to a government agency (it's called whistle-blower-hell).

I don't want to have it kept "confidential" anymore. I want it in the newspapers and on TV!

I hope you find my "rural" experience enlightening.

Mary Johnson, M.D., FAAP
Asheboro, N.C.

Editor's Note: "Lying, greedy misogynists" constitutes an opinion. Follow the link and you'll see that I've earned the right to have it and express it.