This section answers the most frequently asked questions about the Management and Organizational Practices Survey-Hospitals. If you don't find an answer to your particular question, please contact staff.

For assistance completing this survey, please log-in to your Census Bureau account at https://portal.census.gov and send us a secure message or call the customer help line at 1-866-208-4221, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

General

What is the purpose of the Management and Organizational Practices Survey-Hospitals?

The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting the Management and Organizational Practices Survey-Hospitals to better understand current and evolving management and organizational practices in hospitals and to assist in studying their relationship to clinical and financial performance. Census data are essential for business and government decision making. Information from hospitals like yours also provides reliable data for your industry and your community.

Is this survey mandatory?

Yes, your response is required by law. Title 13 United States Code, Sections 131 and 182, authorizes this collection. Sections 224 and 225 require your response.

What steps does the Census Bureau take to ensure that confidential data are secure?

The Census Bureau takes its commitment to confidentiality very seriously. It constantly pursues new procedures, technologies, and methodologies to safeguard individual data. Every person with access to person or business data – from the Director on down – is sworn by Title 13 to protect confidentiality and is subject to criminal penalties if they do not. Tight computer security and strict access and handling procedures are followed.

Are online electronic services secured?

Yes. The information transferred from your computer to our server is encrypted.

How was I selected for this survey?

Your establishment was chosen from a scientifically selected sample of hospitals. Taking a sample is less costly than contacting every hospital in the country. Establishments selected for the sample represent other similar hospitals.

This establishment is not a hospital. What should I do?

If you are not an institution providing medical and surgical treatment and nursing care for sick or injured inpatients at the location listed on the letter you received, please indicate the nature of your business in the remarks section and submit the electronic form to us.

My establishment is no longer in business. What should I do?

Complete the survey with data for any period of time during the 2019 and 2020 calendar years that the establishment was in operation. If the establishment was not in operation during this time periodplease indicate that the establishment was not in business in the remarks section and submit the electronic form.

What is the reporting period for this survey?

This survey asks about your management practices in 2019 and 2020. Report data for the calendar years in question.

My establishment was sold or acquired in 2019 or 2020. What should I do?

Please report for both 2019 and 2020 and include any notes on ownership changes in the Remarks section of the electronic form.

My establishment was not in business in 2019. What should I do?

If the establishment was not in operation during the 2019 calendar year, please do not report data for 2019. You should still submit data for the 2020 calendar year.

I was not employed at this hospital in 2019. What should I do?

Complete the survey with data for any period of time during the 2020 calendar year that you were employed at this hospital. You will not be required to provide answers for the 2019 calendar year.

Completing the Survey

How long will it take to complete this survey?

We estimate this survey will take an average of 45 minutes to complete, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

I lost my authentication code. How can I access it?

Please contact staff by calling the customer help line at 1-866-208-4221, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

How can I compile my data before reporting online?

Once you have submitted your authentication code, select Report Now on the survey card. You can click “Report Now” to either start reporting or access a printable PDF worksheet

Can I use estimates to complete the report form?

Estimates are acceptable when responding to the questions on this report form.

I do not see an answer choice that represents the situation at my establishment. What should I do?

In the event that none of the available answer choices reflect the situation at this establishment, please choose the answer that most closely represents the situation at this establishment.

I ran out of space for comments in the Remarks section. What do I do?

If you run out of space, you may send additional information by sending an email to the Census Bureau:

Click “Options” on your survey card.

Select “Send Message” to email the Census Bureau.

When is the Management and Organizational Practices Survey-Hospitals due?

The deadline for returning data to the Census Bureau is 30 days after receiving the questionnaire or August 19, 2021, whichever occurs later.

I need more time. Can I obtain an extension?

Yes.

Click “Options” on your survey card.
Select “Request extension” (if this option is greyed out, time extensions are not available)
Click on the calendar icon or down arrow under “Extended Due Date”
Select an available date in the calendar.
Click “Submit”
A confirmation message will appear on your screen, and your survey card will now display the original survey due date along with the extended date granted to you.

Survey Defintions

What is an establishment?

An establishment is generally a single physical location where business is conducted or where services are performed.

What are clinical key performance indicators?

A clinical key performance indicator is a quantifiable metric used to evaluate the success of any clinical activity or function. For questions (3), (4), (5) and (6), consider key performance indicators that are used in any clinical activities at this hospital.

What are hospital-wide goals for patient care?

The following list includes examples of hospital-wide goals for patient care that should be considered in questions (7), (8), and (9): infection rates, readmission rates, and wait times.

What are the differences between clinical managers, providers, and frontline clinical workers?

A clinical manager is someone who has employees directly reporting to them, with whom they meet on a regular basis, and whose pay and promotion they may be involved with. A clinical manager is involved in patient care decision-making.

Providers include physicians, physicians’ assistants, advance practice registered nurses, and others who are responsible for evaluation, diagnosing, and treating patients. Typically, providers do NOT have employees directly reporting to them.

Frontline clinical workers include all clinical staff with direct patient care responsibilities (such as nurses, nurses’ aides, physical/occupational/speech/respiratory therapists, radiology and laboratory technicians), who do NOT have employees directly reporting to them. Do NOT include non-clinical frontline staff such as food services, housekeeping, or maintenance staff.