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".
Problem 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?
Discuss performance measures in healthcare in relationship to this discussion.