Ask Me Anything American Nurses Training Association

Simplicity Campaign strategy that prompts clients to ask any questions about their healthcareCampaign strategy that prompts clients to ask any questions about their healthcare A prompt for providers to address HEALTH LITERACY in EVERY clinical encounter…A prompt for providers to address HEALTH LITERACY in EVERY clinical encounter… Patient / Family Health Care Worker Health Care Worker Health Care Worker

Importance There’s no part of the healthcare “experience” from….There’s no part of the healthcare “experience” from…. Admissions (history)Admissions (history) Informed ConsentsInformed Consents Discharge instructionsDischarge instructions ….that does not rely on accurate levels of communications.….that does not rely on accurate levels of communications.

Perceived Benefits to Clients Encourage them to act quickly on their own behalfEncourage them to act quickly on their own behalf Interact with no shame or embarrassment at anytime!Interact with no shame or embarrassment at anytime! Participate more in decision making Participate more in decision making Play a greater role in their health carePlay a greater role in their health care Follow agreed treatment regimens Follow agreed treatment regimens Lessen their anxiety Lessen their anxiety Have more realistic expectationsHave more realistic expectations

Compatibility Joint Commission- National Patient Safety Goals- Goal #2E: Implement a standardized approach to ‘handoff’ communications, including an opportunity to ask and respond to questions Goal #2E: Implement a standardized approach to ‘handoff’ communications, including an opportunity to ask and respond to questions Goal #13 : Encourage patients’ active involvement in their own care as a patient safety strategy Goal #13 : Encourage patients’ active involvement in their own care as a patient safety strategy Goal #13A : Define and communicate the means for patients and their families to report concerns about safety and encourage them to do so. Goal #13A : Define and communicate the means for patients and their families to report concerns about safety and encourage them to do so.

Trialability The most important safety tool that all members of the healthcare team have at their immediate disposal is communicationThe most important safety tool that all members of the healthcare team have at their immediate disposal is communication Everyone must be accountable to speak up if an unsafe or potentially unsafe practice is evident, regardless of positionEveryone must be accountable to speak up if an unsafe or potentially unsafe practice is evident, regardless of position Direct communication, with few handoffs, among all levels of caregivers to:Direct communication, with few handoffs, among all levels of caregivers to: Ask Me Anything… Ask Me Anything…

.....Or You’re Asking for it! Poor patient outcomes-deaths or injuries that could have been avoided Poor patient outcomes-deaths or injuries that could have been avoided Reinforcement of the public’s mistrust of clinicians Reinforcement of the public’s mistrust of clinicians Litigation against physicians, hospital and clinicians Litigation against physicians, hospital and clinicians

Observations The single greatest error in healthcare is failure of communicationThe single greatest error in healthcare is failure of communication After an event has harmed a patient, the best risk management tool is support with open communication linesAfter an event has harmed a patient, the best risk management tool is support with open communication lines Our code of ethics says as health care professionals we have a moral responsibility to be honest with our patientsOur code of ethics says as health care professionals we have a moral responsibility to be honest with our patients

Questions Ask Me Anything

Questions Are The Answers

The Following Sample Questions are Take From:  Did you recently receive a diagnosis?  Are you scheduled to have any medical tests?  Are you considering treatment for an illness or condition?  Did your clinician recently recommend surgery?  Did your clinician give you a prescription?  Are you choosing a health plan?  Are you choosing a clinician?  Are you choosing a hospital?  Are you choosing long term care?

Did you recently receive a diagnosis? What is my diagnosis? What is my diagnosis? What is the technical name of my disease or condition, and what does it mean in plain English? What is the technical name of my disease or condition, and what does it mean in plain English? What is my prognosis (outlook for the future)? What is my prognosis (outlook for the future)? What changes will I need to make? What changes will I need to make? Is there a chance that someone else in my family might get the same condition? Is there a chance that someone else in my family might get the same condition? Will I need special help at home for my condition? Will I need special help at home for my condition? Is there any treatment? Is there any treatment? What are my treatment options? What are my treatment options? How soon do I need to make a decision about treatment? How soon do I need to make a decision about treatment? What are the benefits and risks associated with my treatment options? What are the benefits and risks associated with my treatment options? Is there a clinical trial (research study) that is right for me? Is there a clinical trial (research study) that is right for me? Will I need any additional tests? Will I need any additional tests? What organizations and resources do you recommend for support and information? What organizations and resources do you recommend for support and information?

Are you scheduled to have any medical tests? What is the test for? What is the test for? How is the test done? How is the test done? Will the test hurt? Will the test hurt? How accurate is the test? How accurate is the test? Is this test the only way to find out that information? Is this test the only way to find out that information? What are the benefits and risks of having this test? What are the benefits and risks of having this test? What do I need to do to prepare for the test? What do I need to do to prepare for the test? How many times have you performed the test? How many times have you performed the test? When will I get the results? When will I get the results? What will the results tell me? What will the results tell me? What's the next step after the test? What's the next step after the test?

Are you considering treatment for an illness or condition? What are my treatment options? What are my treatment options? What do you recommend? What do you recommend? Is the treatment painful? Is the treatment painful? How can the pain be controlled? How can the pain be controlled? What are the benefits and risks of this treatment? What are the benefits and risks of this treatment? How much does this treatment cost? How much does this treatment cost? Will my health insurance cover the treatment? Will my health insurance cover the treatment? What are the expected results? What are the expected results? When will I see results from the treatment? When will I see results from the treatment? What are the chances the treatment will work? What are the chances the treatment will work? Are there any side effects? Are there any side effects? What can be done about them? What can be done about them? How soon do I need to make a decision about treatment? How soon do I need to make a decision about treatment? What happens if I choose to have no treatment at all? What happens if I choose to have no treatment at all?

Did your clinician recently recommend surgery? Why do I need surgery? Why do I need surgery? What kind of surgery do I need? What kind of surgery do I need? What will you be doing? What will you be doing? What are the benefits and risks of having this surgery? What are the benefits and risks of having this surgery? Have you done this surgery before? Have you done this surgery before? How successful is this surgery? How successful is this surgery? Which hospital is best for this surgery? Which hospital is best for this surgery? Will the surgery hurt? Will the surgery hurt? Will I need anesthesia? Will I need anesthesia? How long will the surgery take? How long will the surgery take? How long will it take me to recover? How long will it take me to recover? How long will I be in the hospital? How long will I be in the hospital? What will happen after the surgery? What will happen after the surgery? How much will the surgery cost? How much will the surgery cost? Will my health insurance cover the surgery? Will my health insurance cover the surgery? Is there some other way to treat my condition? Is there some other way to treat my condition? What will happen if I wait or don't have this surgery? What will happen if I wait or don't have this surgery? Where can I get a second opinion? Where can I get a second opinion?

Did your clinician give you a prescription? Is my medication list up to date? Is my medication list up to date? What is the name of the medicine? What is the name of the medicine? How do you spell the name? How do you spell the name? Can I take a generic version of this medicine? Can I take a generic version of this medicine? What is the medicine for? What is the medicine for? How am I supposed to take it? How am I supposed to take it? When should I take my medicine? When should I take my medicine? How much medicine should I take? How much medicine should I take? How long do I need to take the medicine? How long do I need to take the medicine? When will the medicine start working? When will the medicine start working? Can I stop taking my medicine if I feel better? Can I stop taking my medicine if I feel better? Are there any side effects? Are there any side effects? When should I tell someone about a side effect? When should I tell someone about a side effect? Do I need to avoid any food, drinks, or activities? Do I need to avoid any food, drinks, or activities? Does this new prescription mean I should stop taking any other medicines I'm taking now? Does this new prescription mean I should stop taking any other medicines I'm taking now? Can I take vitamins with my prescription? Can I take vitamins with my prescription? What should I do if I forget to take my medicine? What should I do if I forget to take my medicine? What should I do if I accidentally take more than the recommended dose? What should I do if I accidentally take more than the recommended dose? Is there any written information I can take home with me? Is there any written information I can take home with me? Are there any tests I need to take while I'm on this medicine? Are there any tests I need to take while I'm on this medicine? Can I get a refill? Can I get a refill?

Are you choosing a health plan? What are my options? What are my options? Does this health plan provide the benefits and services I need? Does this health plan provide the benefits and services I need? Does this health plan offer the clinicians and hospitals I want? Does this health plan offer the clinicians and hospitals I want? Can I afford this health plan? Can I afford this health plan?

Are you choosing a clinician? Is this clinician part of my health plan? Is this clinician part of my health plan? Does this clinician have the background and training I need? Does this clinician have the background and training I need? Is this clinician able to work at the hospital I like? Is this clinician able to work at the hospital I like? Can I ask talk to this clinician and ask questions easily? Can I ask talk to this clinician and ask questions easily? Does this clinician listen to me? Does this clinician listen to me?

Are you choosing a hospital? Which hospital has the best care for my condition? Which hospital has the best care for my condition? Is this hospital covered by my health insurance? Is this hospital covered by my health insurance? Does the hospital meet national quality standards? Does the hospital meet national quality standards? How does the hospital compare with others in my area? How does the hospital compare with others in my area? Has the hospital had success with my condition? Has the hospital had success with my condition? Does my clinician have privileges (is allowed to work) at this hospital? Does my clinician have privileges (is allowed to work) at this hospital? How well does the hospital check and improve on its own quality of care? How well does the hospital check and improve on its own quality of care?

Are you choosing long term care? What kind of services do I need? What kind of services do I need? What are my care options? What are my care options? Will my health insurance cover long-term care? Will my health insurance cover long-term care? Will this facility meet my needs? Will this facility meet my needs? How is this care facility rated? How is this care facility rated?

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