HEALTH CARE QUALITY: CONSUMER RIGHTS
The Consumer Bill of Rights lists
several rights that patients enjoy as consumers of health services.
Some of these are:
- Information disclosure: The
right to receive accurate and easily understood information
on your health services and professionals.
- Access to emergency services:
Whenever needed, the right to receive emergency care.
- Treatment Decisions: The right
to participate in your treatment, knowing all the options available.
- Nondiscrimination: The right
to receive considerate treatment.
- Confidentiality: Review and
copy records, and amend them with privacy and confidentiality
assured.
- Complaints: The right to complain
about waiting times and efficiency of services.
HEALTH CARE QUALITY
SURVEY
The National committee for quality
assurance (NCQA) in its survey of 2004 reports that "the
majority of Americans still receive less than optimal care."
Many people do not receive adequate preventive care and therapy
for chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension leading to
many preventable illnesses. It goes on to say that a thousand
Americans die each week because of shortcomings in heath care
quality.
HEALTH CARE QUALTIY
CERTIFICATION
The national association for health
care quality provides training and certifications. It confers
the Certified professional in health care quality certificate.
HEALTH CARE QUALITY
REFORM
The
following measures are prescribed by NCQA for improving health
care quality:
- Expanded
performance measurements.
- Better
care coordination.
- Broadening
of accountability.
- Pay-for-performance system for
professionals.
