Asking Questions to Improve Health Care Quality
Patient safety is one of today’s most troubling health care issues. Improving health care quality and reducing medical mistakes should be of utmost concern to all health care consumers as well as clinicians.
Taking an active role in your care is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health care. You can improve the quality, safety, and effectiveness of your health care by asking questions. Ask about your care, your diagnosis, your treatment, and any drugs or medication prescribed to you.
The answers you get will help you make better decisions, receive a higher level of care, reduce medical mistakes. So go ahead, ask question and feel better about your health care.
Here’s a list of 10 basic questions.
- What is the test for?
- How many times have you done this?
- When will I get the results?
- Why do I need this surgery?
- Are there any alternatives to surgery?
- What are the possible complications?
- Which hospital is best for my needs?
- How do you spell the name of that drug?
- Are there any side effects?
- Will this medicine interact with medicines I’m already taking?
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Please leave a comments about your experience. Has Asking questioned worked for you?
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