The survey was done by mail. A cover letter and questionnaire were mailed to each patient included in the survey sample for each physician, and a second-wave letter and questionnaire were mailed about six weeks later to anyone who did not respond to the initial mailing. Surveyed patients could return the survey by mail in a pre-paid envelope, or they could use a personal ID code included in the cover letter to go to a CHECKBOOK/CSS website and complete the survey online.

The first wave of surveys was mailed on November 10, 2008, in Denver and Kansas City; on January 7, 2009, in Memphis; and on May 4, 2010, in New York.