Perspectives on Quality of Care
Access to quality healthcare helps individuals stay healthy and recover faster when they are ill. Unfortunately, people do not always get quality care. Before we ask why, let us discuss what quality healthcare means. In some cases, quality means different things to different people. For some people quality healthcare means not having to wait to see the doctor. Others would rather wait a little longer for the trade-off that the doctor spends more time helping them understand.
Answer the following questions about healthcare quality:
o As a healthcare customer, what does quality mean to you?
o How does your definition of quality change when accessing routine healthcare services versus services related to a complex health condition?
• Does the term "quality" hold a different meaning when seeking your own healthcare versus care for a child or another family member?
Respond to each question in 1 to 2 paragraphs.