AHRQ and Ad Council Encourage Patients To Ask Questions...

Now this is more like it. Transparency in health care is a growing issue, and according the the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, "Medical errors cause tens of thousands of deaths each year. Clinicians, the Government, and many other groups are working hard to improve health care quality, but improving health care quality is a team effort. You can improve your care and the care of your loved ones by taking an active role in your health care. Ask questions. Understand your condition. Evaluate your options."

Check out www.ahrq.gov to find a list of 10 questions to ask your doctor. And while you are at it, check out "Having a Baby? Ten Questions to Ask" by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (authors of the Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative). www.motherfriendly.org

Hopefully, this message will translate to the often overlooked area of maternity care. I have a feeling that we will have the greatest impact on our community as we empower one consumer at a time to take responsibility for the quality of their own maternity care.