2. Health Information Can Be
Confusing
• Everyone wants help with health
information
• You are not alone if you find health
information confusing at times
• Asking questions helps you
understand how to stay well or to get
better
3. It Is Important to Be Prepared to Talk
to Your Health Care Provider- Doctor,
Nurse or Pharmacist–
• Don’t Be Nervous to Ask Questions
4. Your Health Care Providers
Want to Help You to Know…
• ..all you can about your condition and
medication
• ..why this is important for your health
• ..steps to take to keep your condition
under control
5. Ask Your Doctor, Nurse or
Pharmacist
During your next health care visit ask 3
good questions for your good health:
What is my main problem?
What do I need to do?
Why is it important for me to do this?
6. What is my main problem?
Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will
provide you with a diagnosis
7. What do I need to do?
Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will
provide you with a treatment plan
8. Why is it important for me to do this?
Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will let
you know what can happen if you do not
follow the treatment plan
9. Who needs to Ask 3?
• Everyone who wants to take better
care of their health
• If you want to understand what your
health problem is and how to treat it
10. Who Wants to Answer 3?
Your medical team – your doctor,
nurse and pharmacist –wants you to
know the information you need to
better manage your and your family’s
health
11. When Do I Ask the 3 Questions?
• When you see your doctor, nurse or
pharmacist
• When you prepare for a medical test
or procedure
• When you pick up your medicine
12. What if I Ask and I Still Don’t
Understand?
• Let your doctor, nurse or pharmacist
know if you still don’t understand
what you need to do
• You might say: “This is new to me.
Will you please explain that to me
one more time?”
13. It Is Important That You Get the Information
That You Need to Manage Your Health
Questions?
14. For more information please visit
the National Patient Safety
Foundation
http://www.npsf.org/
