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NARRATOR: As a patient, you should expect safe care
and you should also take steps to help ensure
you receive safe care.
Clear communication between you and providers
and being an active member of your healthcare team
is important for keeping you healthy and safe.
Asking your doctors, nurses, and pharmacists
and other healthcare providers questions
so you understand your main problem, your plan of care,
and what you need to do for your main problem
is an important first step.
Now more than ever,
patient and family engagement is needed to help you receive
the best healthcare possible.
You are an important part of the healthcare team.
Be an active member of your healthcare team--
ask questions early and ask questions often.
The National Patient Safety Foundation encourages you,
the patient, to be an active member of your healthcare team
by asking three simple but important questions
every time you talk with a healthcare provider.
The three questions are:
What is my main problem?
What do I need to do?
Why is it important for me to do this?
"Ask Me 3."
Good questions for your good health.
DOCTOR: Joe, I think your shortness of breath and swelling
are caused by congestive heart failure.
We need to schedule an echocardiogram
to find out what the cause is.
The echocardiogram will determine your ejection fraction
and if there are any underlying issues with your heart valves.
In the meantime, I'm going to start you
on a couple of medications--
Lotensin for your high blood pressure
and Lasix for the swelling.
Okay.
Do either of you have any questions?
So, I have high blood pressure.
Is that my main problem?
No, high blood pressure is not your main problem.
Your main problem is congestive heart failure.
This condition causes your heart to be weaker
and have to work harder to pump blood through your body.
It can cause swelling in your legs
and it can cause shortness of breath.
Okay, I think my brother may have
the same condition.
What do I need to do?
First, before you leave,
let's schedule an appointment for your test.
After you leave you need to get your two prescriptions filled.
And finally, you need to take your Lotensin and Lasix.
I'm going to suggest that your daughter you write up
a schedule for your medications.
DAUGHTER: A written schedule
of my father's medications will help.
Why is it so important for him
to have the test and take these medications?
Those are really good questions.
The echocardiogram will hopefully tell us
exactly what's causing the heart failure.
The test will also helps us find out how far along
the heart failure is.
It's important to take your medications
because you're helping your heart not work as hard.
The swelling will decrease or disappear
and you're slowing down the disease.
Does that help you understand
why the test and medications are important?
Yes.
Yes, I understand.
I'll make sure to schedule my test and take my medications.
NARRATOR: In this scenario,
Joe asked three simple but important questions.
By asking questions,
Joe was able to be more informed about his main problem
and everything he needed to do.
Also, his family member was seen writing down the information.
When you visit your doctor, if you're in the hospital,
or at the pharmacy,
always ask and write down the answers to these questions:
What is my main problem?
What do I need to do?
Why is it important for me to do this?
For more information about "Ask Me 3"
and communicating well with your healthcare providers,
visit www.npsf.org.