Hospitals and health systems across the country are working to improve patient safety and eliminate systematic errors in healthcare. An educated patient is still the safest type of patient, however. To help advocate for yourself or someone you love in a medical environment, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) suggests that you pose the following questions to healthcare providers when appropriate — both to educate yourself, and to help ensure that you receive the right care at the right time:
"If you received a new prescription, ask:
If your clinician ordered medical tests, ask:
If you received a new diagnosis, ask:
If youre considering treatment options, ask:
If your physician recommends surgery, ask:
If you are choosing a health plan, ask:
If youre choosing a clinician, ask:
If you are choosing long-term care, ask:
What kind of services do I need? What are my care options? Will my health insurance cover long-term care? Will this facility meet my needs? How is this care facility rated?"
Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:
A guide to evaluating the trustworthiness of medical websites
A study indicating that poor teamwork and poor judgment cause most medical errors
Ten patient safety tips for hospitals
If you or a family member believe that you have a case involving medical care, please contact us on-line at Regan Zambri & Long or call us at 202-463-3030 for a free consultation. If you would like to receive our complimentary electronic newsletter, please click here.