Resources
There’s a lot of health information out there. Do you want to get yours from a tabloid you see in the supermarket line, right next to the latest celebrity gossip? Or maybe you’d prefer a blinking banner ad online? Didn’t think so. You want reliable information from trustworthy sources. That’s why we reviewed the resources below, to make sure the information they provide is reliable and useful. We understand that it’s important to have access to tools that can help you improve your health.
Information you find online, or at a library, from quality sources can help make your primary care doctor appointments better. We will be adding more resources on our other health topics over time. You’re also welcome to suggest a resource by emailing ownyourhealth@pugetsoundhealthalliance.org.
- Resources
- Your Primary Care Doctor
- Getting the Right Care
- Talking to Your Doctor
- Taking Care of Yourself
-
- How to Find the Right Primary Care Doctor for You A handy guide from Own Your Health.
- Your Primary Care Doctor Is Your Partner in Health Own Your Health lets you know how having a primary care doctor can help you.
- Choosing a Primary Care Provider (Medline Plus)
- Primary Care Definitions (American Academy of Family Physicians)
- What Doctors Wish Their Patients Knew (Consumer Reports Health)
- Why Primary Care Is Important (King County)
-
- Five Ways to Get the Right Amount of Health Care What is the right amount of health care, why is it important, and how can you get it? Find out in this Own Your Health guide.
- How to Find Trustworthy Health Information on the Internet A useful guide from Own Your Health that will help you be in control of how you get health information online.
- Community Checkup Unbiased information about the quality of health care delivered in the Puget Sound region. View and compare medical groups, clinics, hospitals and health plans.
- Choosing Quality Care Information you can use from the well-respected Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
- Cochrane Reviews Independent reviews of health care research that can help you make decisions with your doctor.
- Effective Health Care Program Explore your treatment options on this highly informative U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website.
- Guide to Health Care Quality This booklet from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality can help you get quality health care.
- Hospital Compare This U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Medicare website allows you to compare hospitals in general, and also in relation to medical conditions and surgical procedures.
- How to Use Reports of Physician and Hospital Performance Easy to understand answers from Care About Your Care about publicly available reports.
- 10 Things You Need to Know About the Quality of Health Care in America Care About Your Care brings you this helpful and important top 10 list.
-
- Tips on What to Do During Your Health Care Appointment Ideas from Own Your Health to help you communicate better with your health care team.
- AHRQHealthTV Questions Are the Answer Videos Watch this playlist of YouTube videos featuring patients, doctors and nurses talking about the importance of asking questions.
- Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Tips for Working With Your Doctor (American Academy of Family Physicians)
- My Family Health Portrait (Office of the U.S. Surgeon General) Document your family health history so you can more easily talk to your health care team about it.
- Questions Are the Answer This consumer-friendly website from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality will help you communicate with your health care team.
- Question Builder Be prepared for your next medical appointment. Create a list of questions with this easy- to-use tool from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
- Taking Charge of Your Health: Communicate Effectively (University of Minnesota)
-
Talking With Your Doctor (Medline Plus)
On this webpage, you can scroll down to see more resources on the topic. - Talking to Your Doctor (National Institutes of Health)
- Understanding Medical Words: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine (Medline Plus)
-
- Personal Medication Tracker Use this Own Your Health tool to keep track of what you take and to share your information with your doctors and pharmacists.
-
Healthy Living (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Tips and tools for staying as healthy as you can. - Next Steps After Your Diagnosis: Finding Information and Support (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
-
Script Your Future (National Consumers League)
Tools and resources to help you take your medicine as directed. Includes information for people with specific medical conditions. -
Staying Healthy (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
Resources on preventing disease, understanding and improving your health, and more.
- Taking Care of Myself: A Guide for When I Leave the Hospital (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
- The Benefits of Physical Activity (Harvard School of Public Health)
- Your Medicine: Be Smart. Be Safe. (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; National Council on Patient Information and Education)
General Resources