Making Informed Choices About Your Health Care

Last updated: March 19, 2015

 

Care Conversatons.org

Explains different options for long term care, how to chose, making the care transition, paying for care, and finding a facility or service. (American Health Care Association)

 

Choosing a Doctor: Quick Tips

Advice on how to find a doctor who is right for you. (U.S. Department on Health and Human Services)

 

Five Wishes

This model advance directive, available in 20 languages, is an easy-to-use legal document that lets adults of all ages plan how they want to be cared for in case they become seriously ill. (Aging with Dignity)

 

Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home

Offers guidance on where to get help, choosing the type of care needed, selecting a nursing facility, paying for the care, and living in a nursing home. (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)

 

Guroo for Health Care Cost Information

Allows you to view the average cost nationally, by state, and locally for the most common types of medical care and tests. Prescription drugs costs will be added soon, and a Spanish language version is also planned.

 

Helping You Choose Quality Ambulatory Care

Lists questions to ask when selecting a doctor’s office, clinic, urgent care center, or ambulatory surgery center. Also available in Spanish. (Joint Commission)

 

Helping You Choose Quality Home Care Services

Lists questions to ask when selecting home care services. Also available in Spanish. (Joint Commission)

 

 

Helping You Choose Quality Hospice Care

Lists questions to ask when selecting a hospice for end-of-life care. Also available in Spanish. (Joint Commission)

 

Helping You Choose Quality Hospital Care

Lists questions to ask when selecting a hospital. Also available in Spanish. (Joint Commission)

 

 

Helping You Choose Quality Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Services

Lists questions to ask when selecting a nursing home or rehabilitation center. Also available in Spanish. (Joint Commission)

 

Home Care & Hospice Basics

Helps you understand both home and hospice services, including selecting the right provider, standard billing and payment practices, and the rights of the patient. (National Association for Home Care & Hospice)

 

How to Pick a Health Insurance Plan

Discusses looking at coverage, premium and potential out-of-pocket expenses, plan ratings, and determining the doctors and hospitals covered by the plan. [Consumer Reports]

 

Informed Patient Institute

Evaluates the web sites that provide quality, safety, or cost information for selecting a doctor, hospital, or nursing home. (Informed Patient Institute)

 

National Clearinghouse for Long Term Care Information

Information and options to help you plan for future long-term care needs. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

 

Quality Check

Quality Check has information about Joint Commission accredited organizations including: an organization accreditation status, accreditation history, and latest performance report. (Joint Commission)

 

Understanding Healthcare Prices: a Consumer Guide

Explaining prices and why they can vary. Also discusses billing for those with or without insurance and what to do if your bill is more than anticipated.

 

Why Not the Best

Compiles quality indicators, patient satisfaction measures, and average reimbursement rates from Medicare’sHospital Compare. When available from other sources, central line-associated bloodstream infections, electronic medical record use, and other performance indicators are included as well. Commonwealth Fund)

 

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