PatientIQ | Blog

Is Your PRO Program Evolving—or Just Existing?

Written by Addie Drillock | Sep 2, 2025 5:48:02 PM

Collecting patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is no longer just a nice-to-have—it's a strategic imperative. PROs capture what truly matters to patients: their perspective on symptoms, function, and quality of life. When collected and used effectively, PROs improve clinical care, support shared decision-making, and help health systems thrive in a value-based care environment.

But not all PRO programs are created equal.

For many organizations, PRO collection remains stuck at the department or pilot level—inefficient, disconnected, or too reliant on manual workflows. That’s where our PRO Maturity Assessment comes in.

A Framework for Real Progress

Developed by PatientIQ after working with hundreds of healthcare organizations, the PRO Maturity Assessment outlines five levels of program maturity—from sporadic collection to full institutionalization. It gives clinical and administrative leaders a way to evaluate where they are today and identify the most impactful next steps.

Here's a snapshot of the five levels:

  • Level 1: Manual – PROs are collected sporadically (if at all), often using paper or spreadsheets.
  • Level 2: Independent Initiatives – Departments run siloed efforts with little coordination or standardization.
  • Level 3: Organizational Commitment – Collection is more coordinated but not yet seamless.
  • Level 4: Streamlined Collection – EHR-integrated workflows and intelligent automation start enabling clinical use.
  • Level 5: Standard of Care – PROs are fully embedded into clinical practice, driving outcomes, quality, and engagement

From increased efficiency and compliance to lower readmission rates and stronger patient satisfaction, each step forward delivers tangible gains.

“PatientIQ has changed the way we deliver clinical care,” said Dr. Adam Yanke, MD, PhD, Director of Clinical Research and Associate Professor at Midwest Orthopedics at RUSH. “From increased efficiency to improved clinical and financial outcomes... we’ve seen benefits of the platform we didn’t know were possible when evaluating it to begin with.”

More Than a Compliance Task

The goal isn’t just to collect PROs—it’s to harness them. When integrated across the patient journey, PROs offer:

  • Real-time feedback to guide care decisions
  • Powerful insights to evaluate and optimize care pathways
  • Evidence of performance in value-based care programs
  • A better patient experience that builds loyalty

From manual collection to system-wide intelligence, PatientIQ’s platform helps healthcare organizations make that transformation. Whether you're starting in one department or going enterprise-wide, we help scale PROs with purpose.

Where Does Your Program Stand?

Curious how your PRO program compares?

Take our 1-minute assessment and find out which level of maturity your organization is operating at, and what it will take to reach the next one.

Whether starting with a single department or scaling across a large system, PatientIQ equips organizations with the infrastructure to implement PROMIS effectively and expand over time.