Free Patient Educational Tools Available To Help Improve Health Outcomes

The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of Health and Human Services, has launched a new public education initiative to help improve patient health outcomes. The initiative, called “Questions are the Answer,” offers valuable free materials that organizations can use for patient education.

These free educational tools help patients come to their medical appointments well prepared, making more efficient use of the time they spend with their doctor or other clinician.

The goal of this public education initiative is to empower patients and their doctors to establish effective two-way communication to help make health care safer and to improve health outcomes.

The campaign includes the following tools:

· A seven-minute video—ideal for patient waiting rooms; can be set to run on a continuous loop—http://www.ahrq.gov/questions/video/waitroom/

· A brochure called “Be More Involved in Your Health Care: Tips for Patients,” which offers helpful suggestions for patients before, during and after a medical visit; also available in a Spanish-language version

· A notepad, designed for use in medical offices, that can help patients prioritize the top three questions they want to ask during their medical appointments; also available in a Spanish-language version

Materials are available at no charge in the following quantities:

· 10 free notepads (50 sheets each)—no shipping fee. Additional copies are 50¢ each, plus shipping.

· 100 free copies of the brochure—no shipping fee. Additional copies are $12.50 for a pack of 25 copies (maximum purchase 1,000 copies), plus shipping.

To order materials, just call the AHRQ Clearinghouse toll-free at 800-358-9295. Or send an E-mail message to: ahrqpubs@ahrq.gov.

Interested in taking a leadership position in promoting patient safety? Your organization might want to explore a partnership agreement with AHRQ that would allow you to reprint these materials with your logo and your organization listed as a cosponsor. If you are interested in exploring this opportunity, please contact AHRQ at 301-427-1248.