profession
Site helps patients take more active communication role
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 24, 2011
The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality is working with the Ad Council to raise awareness among patients about the importance of asking doctors about their care. A highlight of the effort is a website that guides patients through a "question builder" to design a personalized list of items to cover with their doctors (link).
The questions AHRQ recommends that patients consider asking include: "What is the test for?"; "When will I get the results?"; "What are the possible complications?" and "Are there any side effects?" The site also covers what patients should do before, during and after physician appointments. Videos from patients and physicians discuss the importance of enhancing communication in health care.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/10/24/prbf1024.htm.












