Getting the Right Care

Good health care is the right care, at the right time, for the right reason. The quality of health care varies, but trustworthy, public information can help you decide what test or treatment is best for you and if the care meets accepted standards.

When working with your provider

• Your doctor should be using the appropriate tests or procedures for your age, gender and medical history.
• You should get health services when you need them and before you get sicker.
• You should get health services you actually need, nothing more and nothing less.

Quality varies widely from one provider's office to another, and even from one doctor's patient to another. Doctors committed to quality will not only welcome your involvement but also encourage it. While your doctor should be able to direct you to reliable information on a health topic that affects you and talk to you about your options, you have a major role to play when it comes to your health and well-being.

Your role in getting the right care

Here are a few ways to make sure you're getting the right care:

• Find health quality information from reliable sources, such as the Washington Health Alliance's Community Checkup or Medicare's Hospital Compare website.
• Be an active member of your healthcare team. Work with your doctor to make decisions about your care.
• Do your homework. Go online or use the library to learn more about your condition and treatment options before your doctor's appointment. Talk to your doctor about what you've learned.

Getting the Right Care Resources

• Five Ways to Get the Right Amount of Health Care (72 KB PDF)
  Tips for getting the right amount of care-not too much or too little-and why it's important.
• Community Checkup (Washington Health Alliance)
  Unbiased information about the quality of health care delivered in the Puget Sound region. View and compare medical groups, clinics and hospitals.

• How to Use Reports of Physician and Hospital Performance (89 KB PDF)
  Short fact sheet from Care About Your Care explains how to use and interpret physician and hospital performance reports.
• 10 Things You Need to Know About the Quality of Health Care in America (92 KB PDF)
  From understanding that care varies by geography to the role technology plays in improving care, here are the things you need to know about health care quality from Care About Your Care.