Quality Tool Week 10

Improving Health Care Quality: A Guide for Patients and Families
This is a guide that provides information and resources to help you get better quality health care. I think this is a great guide for patients and families to learn how to become involved in their healthcare. You can read all the way through or go directly to the sections that interest you the most. The sections available are listed below:
*What affects health care quality and how to become involved
*How health care quality is measured
*Where to find measurement tools
*How to make more informed health care decisions
*How you can find out about clinical trials
The section that I thought was interesting was the "What affects health care quality and howto become involved”. These are the ways this sectioned advised patient and families to become involved:
*Work with your doctor, nurse, and other health care providers to make decisions about your care.
*Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take.
*Read the label on your prescription right away when you pick up from the drug store. Make sure it is what the doctor ordered for you.
*If you have several health problems or are in a hospital, many people may be involved in your care.
*Ask questions, and keep asking them until you understand the answers.
*Ask your doctor what the scientific evidence has to say about your condition and treatment options. Know that "more is not always better." Be sure to find out why you need a test or treatment and how it can help you. You could be better off without it.
*Find and use information about quality measures when making health care choices.
http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/qntlite/qntlite.htm