In other industries, this is called the “secret shoppers” network, or you could call this the placebo patients of sorts. Whether or not this is a good practice is really up in the air a bit as I can understand from the physician stand point with it being a question of his/her integrity on the line. It’s not like buying something at the electronics store by any 
means. It is interesting that the AMA is endorsing, but not running such a program as I think tight scrutiny has to be observed with a program like this as it can easily get way out of hand, and not only that, legal suits could follow as well. How far does the under cover patient go? There can be benefits too from the positive side of the coin and let’s hope this offers more from a positive direction than negative…BD
CHICAGO — Lori Erickson-Trump has faked headaches and back pain. She's had physicals and MRIs she didn't need and she gets paid for it — all to evaluate the performance of doctors and their staffs.
Hospitals and health clinics are increasingly turning to these undercover patients to grade the health care experience being offered.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-06-12-spying-on-doctors_N.htm
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