We are committed to working in partnership with you to ensure you receive the best possible care.
It is important to ask questions about your care and treatment options. You should also ensure you receive all the information you need to make informed decisions.
The following tips can help you become more actively involved in your health care.
- Speak up if you have any questions or concerns.
- Learn more about your condition or treatments by asking your doctor, nurse or other health care professional, or seek other information sources.
- Keep a list of all the medicines you are taking and make sure you understand what you are taking.
- Make sure you get the results of any tests or procedures.
- Talk to your doctor or other health care professionals about your options.
- Make sure you know what is involved if you need surgery or a procedure.
- Make sure you agree with your doctor and surgeon on exactly what occurs during the operation or procedure.
- Ask your doctor or other health professional to explain the treatment plan for home before you leave hospital.
Some questions you might like to ask your doctor
This will help make sure you have enough information to make the right decisions for you:
- Why do you think this treatment/procedure/therapy is right for me?
- Is this treatment/procedure/therapy new or uncommon? Is there research that says this is the right procedure for me?
- How many times have you done this treatment/procedure/therapy?
- What has happened in the past when you have done this treatment/procedure/therapy?
- How quickly do I need to have this treatment/procedure/therapy?
- What will happen if I do nothing?
- How long will it take me to get better after the treatment/procedure/therapy?
- Are there things about my life I will need to change?
- What can I do to get ready for the treatment/procedure/therapy?
- Will it cost me anything?
- What else can you tell me that will help me decide if this treatment/procedure/therapy is right for me?
- What if I need time to talk with my family, friends or another person about this before I decide?
