Presentation given to ASHA staff by Dr. Gourdine, M.D.

1. FROM PASSIVE PATIENT TO SAVVY HEALTHCARE
CONSUMER: How to Seek and Find your Best Care
Michelle A. Gourdine, M.D.
CEO
Michelle Gourdine & Associates LLC

2. OBJECTIVES
• Distinguish among an empowered patient, an engaged patient, and a
savvy healthcare consumer.
• Define quality healthcare.
• Identify and use reliable sources for choosing the best doctor.
• Know how to talk to your provider about safe care.
• Identify and use reliable sources for choosing a safe hospital.
• Define the role of a hospitalist.

3. THE EVOLUTION OF THE “GOOD PATIENT”
• Previously, being a “good patient” meant being quiet and doing what
the doctor said.
• Today, a “good patient” is an empowered patient who
▫ Is informed,
▫ Speaks up,
▫ Asks questions, and
▫ Makes sure he/she fully understand all aspects of his/her care

4. An empowered patient must first be an engaged
patient.

5. WHAT IS AN “ENGAGED PATIENT?”
• KNOWLEDGE
• SKILLS
• TOOLS
…to take charge of his/her health

6. WHAT IS AN “ENGAGED PATIENT?”
• Engaged patients have
▫ Fewer hospital admissions
▫ Fewer ER visits
▫ Better preventive care
▫ Lower medical costs

7. A SAVVY HEALTHCARE CONSUMER…
• Understands the 4 P’s
▫ Provider
 Select a quality provider
▫ Place
 What is the best (i.e. highest quality) hospital/facility in your geographic area?
▫ Procedure
 Become educated on your procedure and alternatives
▫ Price
 Estimate the total cost and your out-of-pocket costs
• Source: United Healthcare; www.uhc.com

8. YOU’RE IN CHARGE!

12. WHAT IS QUALITY HEALTHCARE
• 2 main types of quality measures
▫ Consumer ratings
▫ Performance measures
• Consumer ratings tells you what people like you think about the
healthcare they received in their health plan
• Performance measures look at how well a doctor, health plan or
hospital prevents and treats illness

14. CHOOSING YOUR BEST DOCTOR

16. RELIABLE SOURCES
for choosing a doctor

26. RELIABLE SOURCES
for choosing a hospital

35. WHEN RESEARCHING HOSPITAL SAFETY
• Research hospitals in your health plan network.
• Talk to your provider and family BEFORE hospitalization to tell them
where you want to go and DON’T want to go.

36. WHEN HOSPITALIZED, SPEAK UP!
• Ask all health care workers who will touch you to wash their hands.
• If you’re having surgery, make sure you and your surgeon are clear on exactly
what you will have done.
▫ Choose a hospital where many of the same surgical procedures have been done
• Ask provider to explain discharge instructions to you , including what you
should do once you’re home.
▫ Medicines
▫ Follow up appointments
▫ When you can resume normal activities
▫ When you can return to work
▫ Whether you should keep taking your old medicines when you return home

37. WHEN HOSPITALIZED, SPEAK UP!
• If your doctor orders a test, ask:
▫ Why the test is being done
▫ How the test is being done
 Blood test
 X ray
 Special prep required?
 Potential side effects?
▫ Make sure your test is labeled properly
 Correct name, spelling, DOB on blood tests
▫ Make sure you’re notified of results
 It’s ok to ask for a copy of the results

38. IF YOUR CARE IS MANAGED BY A HOSPITALIST…
• A hospitalist is a physician who specializes in the care of patients in the
hospital. They practice only in the hospital setting.
• After discharge, the hospitalist transfers care back to the patient’s
regular physician.
• To ensure proper communication, be sure to …
▫ Bring your doctor’s contact information with you and ask the hospitalist to
keep your doctor informed.
▫ Get a list of discharge medicines and instructions so you can share them
with your doctor.
▫ Call your doctor and make a follow up appointment.

39. RESOURCES
General
• http://www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/index.html
• http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/options/tool/
• http://archive.ahrq.gov/consumer/qntlite/qntlite.pdf
• www.healthfinder.gov
Hospital Quality
• http://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.html
• http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/HYC_hap.pdf
• http://www.qualitycheck.org/Consumer/SearchQCR.aspx#
• http://www.carechex.com/Default.aspx
• http://www.leapfroggroup.org

40. RESOURCES
Empowered Patient
• http://archive.ahrq.gov/consumer/qnt/qnthplan.htm
• http://www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/patient-involvement/ask-your-
doctor/tips-and-tools/beinvolved.html
• http://healthcare411.ahrq.gov/
• http://www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/care-planning/
errors/safety.html

41. RESOURCES
Physician Quality
• www.healthgrades.com
• www.apps.ama-assn.org/doctorfinder
• www.providerlookuponline.com
• www.medicare.gov/physiciancompare
• www.ratemds.com

42. “Creating a healthcare system in which
ALL people benefit equally.”
Michelle Gourdine and Associates LLC
www.michellegourdine.com