Problem:
1. An article in Consumer Reports offered the following advice:
"There's no sure way to find a new personal physician who will meet all your needs. Many people simply ask a satisfied friend or relative. A better approach is to ask a healthcare professional -- a physician, nurse, therapist, technician, or social worker -- who has seen many doctors in action. Almost anyone who works in a hospital can tell you which doctors are regarded highly by their patients and colleagues".
2. Compose a response including the following two elements:
In terms of the attributes of care that typically center around the definition of quality, what does it mean to say that it would be preferable to rely on a healthcare professional's opinion, rather than that of a friend or relative who is not a healthcare professional, when choosing a personal physician?
Given what you have learned about quality outcomes and performance improvement, are either of these methods the best way to find a new personal physician? What are some of the other ways that would give you indications of the quality of the physician?
3. Identify a performance tool that could be used in relationship to this discussion.