It would be nice to think that every doctor, nurse, pharmacist, hospital and other provider gives high quality health care. Living in a real world, however, we know that’s not what happens. Quality often depends on where you live, who your doctor is, or what kind of health insurance you have.

To get the kind of quality care I’m talking about requires a team effort in which everyone  is  involved including the government, doctors, hospitals, insurance providers and you the patient. I personally don’t think any of us can count on this kind of team effort taking place in the near future.  It certainly is a realistic goal and could be obtained, but the political climate and the health industry isn’t geared for this.  All of which explains my reasoning for emphasizing your participation in your own health care, especially if you want some semblance of quality.

One of the approaches you can use to measure your health care are clinical measures. These are the general standards for a broad population that may or may not apply to you. For instance, if you have diabetes you should receive the following tests and exams:
Regular blood glucose testing
Regular cholesterol testing
Annual retinal eye exam.
Annual foot exam.
Annual flu shot.

There are also clinical standards for heart disease and cancer.

Today you can find a great deal of information about health care quality on line and in print.  For example, the US Department of Health and Human Services has a quality tool that helps you compare the quality of hospitals in your area.  The tool is available at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov

Accreditation is another good measure of quality.  That is like giving the seal of approval by a private, independent group.  Organizations that award accreditation are in addition to  the national standards.  This will give you a good place to start. Then the rest of the hunt for quality care is up to you: your preferences and your relationship with your medical team.

Take an active part in your search for the quality care of your health program.  It will be worth the time and effort.

To your successful aging,

Ruthan