Finding Your Way: Is Your Hospital Doing a Good Job? 
November 4, 2009
What if you bought a used car and it broke down just a few days after you drove it home? That would be frustrating and costly, at the very least.

Finding Your Way: Open Enrollment—What to Consider When Choosing a Health Plan
October 7, 2009
With premiums rising for health coverage offered by employers, it may feel more like open season on your wallet. That’s all the more reason you should understand your options.

Finding Your Way: What You Need to Know About Blood Thinner Pills
September 16, 2009
Each year, nearly 2 million Americans start taking a blood thinner pill to prevent blood clots from forming in their bloodstream. Blood clots can lead to strokes, heart attacks or other serious health conditions.

Finding Your Way: How to Make an Emergency Department Visit a Safe One
September 2, 2009
You hope an accident or illness won’t send you to the emergency room. But being prepared for such an event can help you get good, timely care when the need arises.

Finding Your Way: Personalized Medicine’s Frontier Is Coming Into View
August 19, 2009
Our parents and grandparents share family values, traditions and heirlooms with us to help define who we are. They also pass along genes that determine our eye color, height and risk for developing certain medical conditions.

Finding Your Way: An Aspirin a Day? The Answer Is Different for Men and Women
August 5, 2009
When it comes to health, there are also differences in what’s best for men and women. Understanding these differences makes it easier for you to take the right steps to stay healthy.

Hospital Advisory Councils Improve Patients’ Care
July 22, 2009
Some hospitals are reducing the risk of medical errors by forming patient safety advisory councils. 

Finding Your Way: Talking About End-of-Life Treatment Decisions
July 8, 2009
Most people do not make their wishes clear to their loved ones or their health care providers, including those who are nearing the end of life.

Finding Your Way: Keeping Track of Your Health Information
June 17, 2009
It’s up to you to keep track of your own health information. Some people do so by creating and maintaining a personal health record, or PHR.

Finding Your Way: You Will Get the Correct Care for Your Illness Only About 60 Percent of the Time
June 3, 2009
If you get sick or have surgery, you have only a three in five chance of getting the care that’s recommended for you.

Asking Questions to Get the Care You Need
May 6, 2009
These days, an appointment with your doctor may give you just enough time to cover the basics. But medical appointments usually don’t allow much, if any, time for questions.

What You Need to Know About Off-Label Drugs
April 22, 2009
What should you do if your doctor prescribes a medicine for you and you find out that the medicine is not normally used to treat your condition?

What ‘Comparative Effectiveness Research’ Means for You
April 8, 2009
Anytime you get news from your doctor, you’ll likely have three immediate questions: What does this mean, what should I do about it, and how will this affect my life? Quality health care uses the best available science to help you answer those questions.

How to Complain and Get Heard
March 17, 2009
Whether it’s a car repair that didn’t fix the problem or a bad meal in a restaurant, many of us don’t hesitate to complain. Making our voices heard when something isn’t right is the first step in getting it corrected.

Does Your Doctor Need a Nap?
March 4, 2009
Are we safe from the errors an overly tired medical resident might make?

A New Aid for Choosing a Nursing Home
Feb. 18, 2009
Finding a high-quality nursing home for a loved one is a big responsibility.  If you’ve ever been in that position, you probably wondered why you could find more detailed data on the latest flat-screen TV or fuel-efficient car than on a nursing home in your area.

Choosing Long-Term Care Services
Feb. 3, 2009
As our population ages, many of us will need to find long-term care for a family member, a loved one, or even ourselves. There are many different options for long-term care, ranging from community services and home care to assisted living facilities, continuing care communities and nursing homes. 

New Hope for Treating Chronic Disease
Jan. 21, 2009
Reforming our health care system, including better prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, will get a lot of attention from the Obama administration and the Congress.

Ready to Shed Pounds in the New Year? Experts Offer Guidance
Jan. 7, 2009
For people who are either overweight or obese, getting to a healthy weight—and staying there—requires major lifestyle changes. For some, it may even involve surgery.

What to Do Before You Leave the Hospital
Dec. 17, 2008
If you have been a patient in the hospital, you may think that most of your medical needs have been taken care of by the time you’re ready to leave. You may also assume that everyone on your medical team is on the same page about your future care needs.

Online Health Information–Pros and Cons
Dec. 3, 2008
Today, there’s a vast amount of this information at your fingertips. Much of it is very good, but not all of it is accurate, unbiased or tailored to your needs. That’s why I urge patients to pay attention to the information’s source.

What Are Your Best Treatment Options?
Nov. 19, 2008
Whether it’s high blood pressure, cancer or diabetes, chances are good that you or a loved one will develop an illness or medical condition. Chances are also good that you will have to choose among some options for how you want your illness treated.

Staying Healthy When the Economy Is Not
Nov. 5, 2008
If you’re looking for ways to save money on health care, you’re not alone: One in three Americans say they’ve had problems paying their medical bills in the past year, a new study finds. And 18 percent of Americans said their medical bills were higher than $1,000.

Medicare Says No to Hospital Errors
Oct. 22, 2008
Starting Oct. 1, the federal government no longer pays hospitals for the extra costs they charge when patients who are covered by Medicare (the government health plan for people 65 years and older) develop some conditions as a result of the hospital’s care. Patients cannot be billed for the costs of those conditions, either.

A Health Checklist for Men
Oct. 8, 2008
Staying in good physical condition can help men live longer and have a better quality of life.

Checklist Helps Women Attend to Their Health Needs
Sept. 24, 2008
If you’re like most women, you make health decisions for your family. Finding time to tend to your own health may not be high on your list of things to do.

What to Do After a Diagnosis
Sept. 10, 2008
Research shows that many people with a serious diagnosis share some of the same reactions and needs. It also shows that patients who are involved in their health tend to get better results from and are more satisfied with their care.

How to Use Hospital ERs Wisely
Aug. 27, 2008
Deciding whether your situation is a true emergency can be a tough call when you feel sick or are in pain.

Checklists May Help You Stay Healthy
Aug. 6, 2008
These days, many people over age 50 are staying fit, even if they don’t plan to compete at an elite level. But some men and women aren’t sure how they can take care of themselves so they can stay healthy and keep doing the activities they enjoy.

How to Choose the Doctor Who's Right for You
July 16, 2008
Finding a physician who provides high-quality care and who meets your needs isn’t—and shouldn’t be—a snap decision.  Finding a doctor who can communicate and is willing to partner with you in decisions about your health can be hard work, but it is worth the effort.

How to Avoid Infections in Hospitals, Clinics–Even Your Doctor's Office
July 2, 2008
Did you know that there is a problem in health care that causes nearly 90,000 deaths and costs billions of dollars to treat each year? It’s called a health care-associated infection—HAI—and it’s preventable.

Do Your Homework Before You Choose a Hospital
June 19, 2008
Choosing a hospital that scores well on quality can make it easier—and safer—for you to recover from a serious event, like having heart surgery, or a routine one, like having a baby.

What's the Right Health Plan for You?
June 4, 2008
Whether we're making big or small decisions, American consumers like to have options. This preference also applies to making decisions about health plans.

Real Men Take Care of Their Health
May 2008
Whatever your favorite form of exercise is, taking care of yourself makes a big difference.

What's Your Health Literacy Score?
May 2008
Health literacy reflects how well a person can find and understand information about the health care services they need. It plays a big role in how well a person can take information and use it to make good decisions about their care, such as following directions for treatment.

Carolyn M. Clancy, a general internist and researcher, is an expert in engaging consumers in their health care. She is the director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

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