Patients as consumers - Essay Example

What obligations do health care insurers and health care providers have in meeting the right-to-know of patients as consumers? A patient’s level of awareness regarding a disease, its symptoms, and available treatment options significantly affects the quality and efficiency of treatment that a health care professional can deliver. Apart from patients’ rights and the health care providers’ obligation, the above mentioned reasons make delivery of patient information all the more mandatory. Health care has become a national priority and an active and involved patient can help in better outcome by participating with the health care team.

"Patient safety is an overriding health care issue. With information, patients can make better, more informed health care decisions. This legislation will help patients do that"(Warner, Virginia). Patients and health care consumers need to have adequate and reliable information about the standard medical practices and the provider’s compliance with their same in order to safeguard their health and receive quality treatment. To begin with, it is important for the treating practitioner to give a clear introduction of self to the patient including his/ her designation and specialty.

Prior to carrying out any diagnostic test or medical procedure, the patient should be told as to why it is being administered, how much time it is expected to take, the reliability and whether to expect any pain or discomfort. A health care provider is obliged to clearly explain to the patient and his/ her family the diagnosis, cause, effects, prognosis, severity of the disease and the expected frequency of follow-up visits in plain language and ensure that all queries and doubts have been dealt with and that no misconceptions remain.

It also helps to stock up information brochures and pamphlets that can be carried home with the patient. Secondly, all treatment and surgical options should be listed along with the pros and cons of each and the practitioner should refrain from forcing a decision on the patient. A practitioner has a right to recommend but the ultimate right to make a final decision lies with the consumer. Patients have the choice to refuse treatment if they want to. Furthermore, any kind of drugs and medical appliance prescribed should be accompanied by details pertaining to usage, dosage, course, possible side- affects and necessary precautions.

Patients should also be warned about any cross reactions that may occur with any medication they are already consuming. Illegible handwriting can cause confusion and sometimes even endanger the patient’s health- therefore; it is preferable to give out prescriptions in print wherever possible. Risks, benefits and success rates of all surgical procedures should be vividly discussed with patients and their families. All health care consumers are entitled to respect and dignity irrespective of their age, sex, nationality, language, community, socio-economic background, race or ethnicity.

Each one of them should be treated ethically and equally. Instances where a patient’s medical records or case study are being used for research/ teaching or if a patient is enrolled as a participant in a study, it should be ensured that informed consent has been obtained or the patient’s identity is concealed to protect privacy. A patient has the right to approach another practitioner for a second or third opinion and may decide to undergo treatment with the same; al medical care personnel are under obligation to respect patients’ decision and not attempt to create a bias in any way.

Patients have a right to know of the extent of finances provided by health insurance agencies.” Giving people the right to challenge health insurance coverage decisions is only helpful if consumers know their rights. For example, Maryland requires HMOs to tell consumers about their right to appeal a decision when such a denial occurs. This rule makes insurers a bit more circumspect in their decisions, knowing that members and policyholders will have immediate information about the recourses open to them.

”(DLC, 2006) References, http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=363&topcategory=Patient+Safety Peter Huber, 07.24.06 -The Patients Right to Know DLC , Model Initiatives , July 10, 2006- Patients Right to Know Linda T. Kohn, Janet M. Corrigan, and Molla S. Donaldson, Editors, "To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System," Institute of Medicine, 2000 www.nap.edu/catalog/9728.html "Idea of the Week: A Health Consumers Right To Know," Democratic Leadership Council, June 8, 2001 www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm? contentid=3434&kaid=131&subid=207 Patient Consent and Rights of Carehttp://www.

advocatehealth.com/system/services/homehealth/rights.html