Ask Me Anything American Nurses Training Association Simplicity

Ask Me Anything American Nurses Training Association

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

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

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

Compatibility Joint Commission-National Patient Safety Goals- • Goal #2 E: 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 A: 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 communication • Everyone 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: Ask Me Anything…. . . .

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

Observations • • • The 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 lines Our 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: ØDid you recently receive a diagnosis? ØAre you scheduled to have any medical tests? ØAre you considering treatment for an illness or condition? ØDid your clinician recently recommend surgery? ØDid your clinician give you a prescription? ØAre you choosing a health plan? ØAre you choosing a clinician? ØAre you choosing a hospital? ØAre you choosing long term care?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact Information ANTA. Training. For. Nurses@gmail. com