What to Ask if You Must Choose a Hospital
By Joy Pierce Mathews for Summit Medical Group
The Summit Medical Group model of care focuses on well-coordinated, comprehensive, and convenient care that puts patients first. To ensure that you receive the highest standard of care, the Group wishes to help you:
- Take a role in your health care
- Ask questions
- Understand your condition or disease
- Understand and decide about your treatment options
Our Doctor Discussion Guide can make it easier for you to ask important questions when you visit your doctor and must choose a hospital. Download the Guide and follow these simple steps:
1) Place the Doctor Discussion Guide in a convenient location such as your refrigerator before your appointment. Having it handy will make it easier to make notes on it as you think of things you’d like to ask your doctor.
2) Write down all questions, concerns, or side effects that you are having.
3) Use the section at the bottom to write additional questions or make notes about recommendations your doctor has about your health, medications, and follow-up appointments.
4) Take all your medication bottles to your appointment or list them with the proper dosing below.
Don’t feel embarrassed to ask your doctor about any concerns you have about your health. Remember that he or she can only provide the care you need if you are honest about your complete medical history, including your lifestyle habits such as smoking, your diet, emotional problems, alcohol and drug use, and not taking medications as prescribed.
If you are choosing a hospital, you should ask:
1) Which hospital do you recommend for me?
2) Does my health insurance cover treatment I will receive at this hospital?
3) Does the hospital meet national quality standards?
4) How does this hospital compare with others in my area?
5) Has the hospital successfully treated other patients with my condition?
6) Is my doctor/are my doctors working at this hospital?
7) How well does the hospital monitor and improve its quality of care?
Use this section to list other concerns you would like to discuss with your doctor.
Please click on any of the following links for a list of downloadable questions about:
