How to Measure Quality of Health Care

Getting adequate health care when you are sick or injured increases the chances that your recovery will be more complete. A good rule of thumb to remember when measuring the quality of health care is that anything can be improved upon. In addition to getting the best medical care you need when you need it, keep in mind when assessing the quality of the services you receive that you are entitled to certain expectations when receiving health care. As you compare health care, there are several basic things which you should be able to do.

Instructions

• 1

  Gain easy access to health care services. Find out if your network provider offers plan members more choices in the services available to them. Better plans increase the number of participating medical facilities, in addition to the number of both member and referral physicians. Individuals should not be required to travel long distances to receive the medical services they need.

• 2

  Communicate openly with doctors and other health care professionals. The first step in building a successful doctor-patient relationship is for a health care provider to listen carefully to a patient's concerns over his health care. Physicians also need to explain things in a way that patients will understand, and that includes instructions about care and taking medications. But before a doctor can understand a patient's needs, she must spend adequate time with the patient as well as be aware of the patient's medical history.

• 3

  Receive preventive care and screenings. Health screenings can lead to early detection of disease. One effective way to screen for common risk factors is for doctors to have patients come in at least once each year for a complete physical examination and update of their medical history

• 4

  Expect follow-up care. Patients have the right to know about any potential long-term health risks associated with the treatments they receive for certain diseases. Health care professionals should be concerned with how patients perceive the care they receive. Survivors of acute illness, in particular, may need help in dealing with the emotional issues related to fighting a serious health condition. Continuity of care also helps to build trust, giving patients the confidence to express their needs more clearly to their physicians.

• 5

  Get ongoing care, especially when it comes to managing chronic disease. Referral to the appropriate support services is becoming a crucial factor in pain management. Therefore, a health care team must be responsive not only to a patient's illness and the related medical aspects but also sensitive to the social and psychological implications involved.