about the research & planning group

the Research & Planning Group 1

The Research & Planning Group has been conducting opinion research studies for 30 years.

• Business-to-Business (B2B) Research

• In-Depth Interviews• Executive Interviewing• Physician Interviewing

• Focus Groups• Satisfaction Research• Healthcare Research• OPO Industry Research

Specialties We’ve

Developed

Who We Are

We combine both quantitative and qualitative methodologies in our research design.


OPOs We’ve ServedWe have conducted studies within the OPO industry since 1998.

Within the last seven years, we’ve conducted studies for fifteen different OPOs across the country.


Studies We’ve Designed

ICU/Critical Care Physician

Satisfaction

Transplant Physician

Satisfaction

Nurse and Staff

Satisfaction

Donor Family Satisfaction

Designated Requestor

Satisfaction

Call Center Improvement

African-American Attitudes

Satisfaction Trends

The greatest demand has been for our satisfaction studies with hospital partners and donor families.

Our research for the OPO industry has covered a variety of topics.


Our ApproachThe Research & Planning Group primarily uses in-depth telephone interviews to conduct research to capture both quantitative and qualitative data with groups such as donor families and hospital partners.

Advantages

• Respondents can schedule interviews on their own time.

• Trained professional interviewers can ensure quality data.

• Questions can be probed for detail.

• Interviews can go into more depth because of the human element.

• Response rate is determined by quotas, not estimates.

Drawbacks

• Can require more time to complete.

• Experienced interviewers are a must.

• Honoraria are highly recommended to ensure physician participation.

RPG has developed efficiencies to reduce

required time.

RPG has a team of interviewers who

specialize in physician, donor family and

medical interviewing.

RPG has found that a number of physicians donate these back to the sponsoring OPO.

This method is ideal for collecting data where depth and detail are crucial to interpreting the results .


Our approach (cont’d)Our survey instruments often contain a mixture of quantitative and qualitative questions.

Because we often used questions we have validated, the scope and the limitations of the data are known. The data our approach yields are

both insightful and actionable.

• Determine how [OPO] is performing in satisfying its hospital physician partners in key service areas and what the roots causes of low overall satisfaction may be.

Research Objective 1: Satisfaction

• Determine how [OPO] is performing when it comes to communicating with its hospital physician partners before, during and following the donation process.

Research Objective 2: Communication

• Determine how [OPO] is performing when it comes to providing education about donation to hospital physician partners and what needs are currently unmet.

Research Objective 3: Education

• Determine what strengths, weaknesses, problem areas and opportunities hospital physician partners perceive regarding [OPO]

Research Objective 4: OPO Assessment

Our survey instruments can be customized to suit the needs of individual OPOs while still providing statistically significant and comparable data.


Our Approach (cont’d)Defining the population is one of the most important decisions to make in research.

Interviewing hospital partners and donor families is different from clinical trials and from consumer interviews because the population is much more homogenous (i.e., similar) in response.

• High degree of variation• May lack knowledge of

study topic• Large population size

Consumers

• High degree of variation• Necessity for low error to

ensure successful outcome

• Large population size

Clinical Trials

• Low degree of variation• Knowledgeable and

engaged about topic• Very small population size

Hosp. Partners Donor Families

We recommend conducting research with the most qualified populations (frequent hospital partners, recent donor families) to ensure that you receive information that is useful and which reflects current perceptions.

• Offer direction• Provide comparisons to

yourself over time and to other OPOs nationally

• Answer the question of “how are we doing?”

Numerical Scores

• Offer clarity• Provide insight into the

numbers and identify new trends

• Answer the question of “how can we improve?

Verbatim Comments

• Offer purpose• Provide insight into how

data can be applied to your organization

• Answer the question of “what can we do now that we have this information?”

Actionable Recommendations


What We DeliverOur proven research methods will ensure that you have the information you need to improve hospital physician partner satisfaction.

Our analysis and reporting process will deliver a concise report with data-driven points of action and offer recommendations from a research firm that understands your business.

Your “Wish List” of questions

• Our flexible methodology allows you to insert questions specific to your organization. We encourage staff input.

A well-organized list of your population

• We need current phone numbers (and fax numbers and email addresses for hospital partners) for each potential respondent.

Your assistance in making physicians aware of the study

• We ask OPOs to send out signed letters and official email messages informing respondents about the study.


What We RequireWe view ourselves not as your research vendor, but as your research partner. We cannot complete the job without your help in several key areas.

With your help, we can ensure that the data collection process is conducted with efficiency, quality and respect for your hospital partners’ / donor family members’ valuable time.

OPO Blog

• Read summaries of academic articles, trends we’ve spotted, and insights we’re finding in the field!

White Papers

• Read through our 2011 series of articles on emerging trends we’ve spotted within the OPO industry.

Sample Report

• Take a look at an example of data compiled from several OPOs, combined into a sample report.


For More InformationWe have prepared a packet with more detailed materials for you to read over.

Get the packet at http://opo.researchplan.com/ under “Our Studies”

http://opo.researchplan.com/


