Daily HealthBeat Tip - March 15, 2007

Questions are the answers

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Your doctor needs more from you than just a chance to put a cold stethoscope on your chest. Your doctor needs your information – what you know about your symptoms, for instance. And you have things you need to know, too.

So HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality – AHRQ – has launched a campaign to help you to speak up whenever you're with your health care provider.

AHRQ's director, Dr. Carolyn Clancy:

"Health professionals are often very busy, and they can't know what questions you're thinking about if you don't think of them ahead of time and let them know what's on your mind." (8 seconds)

For instance, you need to ask about side effects of drugs, recovery time after surgery, or when you'll get test results. By asking questions, you can help ensure you get high quality health care.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: April, 06 2007