Patient Involvement

Sponsor Organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Campaign Website: www.AHRQ.gov/QuestionsAreTheAnswer
Volunteer Agency:  Grey New York

An estimated 1.5 million medication errors happen every year in hospitals, doctors’ offices, nursing homes and pharmacies, according to the Institute of Medicine. Research also shows that consumers who get more involved with their health care can greatly improve the safety of their care, but patients are generally unaware of what to do to help prevent medical mistakes. According to a survey conducted by AHRQ and the Kaiser Family Foundation, 57 percent of Americans do not believe that preventable medical errors occur often.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Ad Council have joined together to launch a public service advertising campaign, “Questions Are the Answer,” designed to encourage consumers to get involved in their health care by knowing and asking appropriate questions  when visiting their doctor and other clinicians.

The campaign directs audiences to visit a comprehensive Web site, www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer, that contains tips for patients to become more involved in their health care, including a list of questions everyone should know when they visit their doctor or other clinician. The Web site also features an interactive “Question Builder” that allows consumers to generate a customized list of questions they can bring to medical appointments.