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	Navigating the Health Care System Advice Columns from Dr. Carolyn Clancy AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy, M.D., has prepared brief, easy-to-understand advice columns for consumers to help navigate the health care system. They address important issues in order to help people become informed health care consumers.

Heart Health
There are many treatment options for managing your blood pressure, and maintaining good cholesterol levels.

Electively Inducing Labor
An AHRQ guide helps women understand the potential pros and cons of choosing induced labor.

Column Library:

Date	Title
2/05/2013	New Tools Help Health Providers Reduce Patients’ Risk of Falls
1/08/2013	Make Good on Your Resolution To Quit Smoking
12/14/2012	Resources to Help You Stay Healthy in the New Year
11/09/2012	Tool Helps Hospital Staff Improve Communications for Patients with Limited English Skills
10/02/2012	Teamwork a Key Feature of Patient Safety Improvement Program
9/04/2012	Helping You Avoid Return Trips to the Hospital
8/07/2012	Get Up-to-Date on Shots Before Summer Ends
7/10/2012	Revealing Medical Errors Helps Chicago Hospitals Build a Safer Health System
5/01/2012	One Step Forward on Quality Improvement, One Step Back on Access
4/03/2012	Consumers Learning To Recognize High-Value Health Care Providers
3/06/2012	New Processes Can Help Hospitals Spot - and Stop - Drug Errors
2/07/2012	Million Hearts Campaign Aims to Lower Risk, Improve Care
12/06/2011	Tools Help You Choose a Good Nursing Home
11/01/2011	How to Get a Good Value When Choosing a Health Plan
10/04/2011	New Initiative Urges Better Communication between Clinicians and Patients
9/06/2011	Research on Women’s Health Issues Informs Treatment Choices
8/02/2011	Why You Need to Explore Your Treatment Options
7/05/2011	Resources to Help You Be a Better Caregiver
6/07/2011	New Public Service Campaign Urges Hispanics To Talk With Their Doctor
5/03/2011	Safety Culture Creates Better Care for Patients
4/05/2011	Health IT Tools Help with Care and Costs
3/01/2011	What You Can Do To Prevent A Fall
2/01/2011	Focus on Heart Health
1/04/2011	Your Options for Treating Rotator Cuff Tears
12/07/2010	Don’t Let Medicines Cause Harm
11/02/2010	Quitting Smoking
10/05/2010	Focus on Obesity
9/07/2010	Improving Your Health Literacy
8/03/2010	Treating High Cholesterol
7/06/2010	Why It’s Wise to Use a Health Advocate
6/01/2010	How to Avoid the Round-Trip Visit to the Hospital
5/04/2010	Healthcare-Associated Infections: They Can Happen to You
4/06/2010	Same-Day Surgery: What You Should Know
3/02/2010	Comparing Blood Pressure Medicines
2/02/2010	Comparing Diabetes Drugs
1/05/2010	Comparing Medical Treatments for Antidepressants
11/03/2009	Does Your Hospital Do A Good Job?
10/06/2009	Open Enrollment: What To Consider When Choosing a Health Plan
9/15/2009	What You Need to Know about Blood Thinner Pills
9/01/2009	How to Make an Emergency Department Visit a Safe One
8/18/2009	Personalized Medicine's Frontier Is Coming Into View
8/04/2009	An Aspirin a Day? The Answer is Different for Men and Women
7/21/2009	Hospital Advisory Councils Get Patients' View on Safer Health Care
7/07/2009	Talking About End-of-life Treatment Decisions
6/16/2009	Keeping Track of Your Health Information
6/02/2009	New Reports Show Weak Progress on Health Quality
5/19/2009	Coordinating Your Care with a Medical Home
5/05/2009	Asking Questions to Get the Care You Need
4/21/2009	Off-Label Drugs: What You Need to Know
4/07/2009	Comparative Effectiveness Research: What It Means for You
3/17/2009	How To Complain - And Get Heard
3/03/2009	How Tired Is Your Doctor?
2/17/2009	New Web Tool Helps You Choose a Nursing Home
2/03/2009	How to Choose Long-Term Care Services
1/21/2009	New Hope for Chronic Disease Management
1/06/2009	Ready to Lose Weight in the New Year? Experts Offer Guidance for Adults and Children
12/16/2008	Better Information Helps Patients
12/02/2008	Online Tools Help Patients Find Good Health Information
11/18/2008	Guides Help Patients Find Their Best Treatment Options
11/05/2008	Keeping Healthy When the Economy Is Not
10/21/2008	Payment Change Puts Spotlight on Preventing Hospital Errors
10/07/2008	Checklist Helps Men Keep on Track to Good Health
9/16/2008	Checklist Helps Women Give Equal Time to Their Health Needs
9/02/2008	Helpful Steps To Take After You Get a Diagnosis
8/19/2008	How To Use Hospital Emergency Rooms Wisely
8/05/2008	Checklists Help Men and Women Stay Healthy at 50+
7/15/2008	Tips To Help You Find a Good Doctor
7/01/2008	Simple Steps Can Reduce Health Care-Associated Infections
6/03/2008	Smart Choices: How to Choose a Health Plan That’s Right for You
5/20/2008	What's Your Health Literacy Score
5/06/2008	Real Men Wear Gowns - And Help Their Health
4/15/2008	Superheroes TV and Radio Ads Encourage Hispanics to Get Involved in Their Own Health Care
4/01/2008	Your Experience in the Hospital and Why it Matters
3/18/2008	Balancing Treatment Advice: Benefits, Risks, and Personal Choice
3/04/2008	Big Strides, Not Small Steps, Needed to Boost Health Care Quality
2/19/2008	Busting Myths About Health Care Quality
2/05/2008	Asking Questions About Medical Tests
1/16/2008	What to Ask Before Surgery
1/02/2008	Tips for Taking Medicines Safely
12/18/2007	Where Medical Errors Occur and Steps You Can Take to Avoid Them
12/04/2007	Facing the Facts: Get Involved to Get Better Care
11/20/2007	Health Care Quality: Take A Closer Look
10/30/2007	Becoming an Involved Health Care Consumer
10/16/2007	Recognizing High-Quality Health Care

New Tools Help Health Providers Reduce Patients’ Risk of Falls
For older adults, falls are serious, whether they take place in the home or in a health care setting.

Make Good on Your Resolution To Quit Smoking
For people who smoke cigarettes, the New Year is a popular time to try to quit.

Resources to Help You Stay Healthy in the New Year
As the New Year gets closer, it’s a good time to think about how to stay healthy in 2013.

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