A Guide for Patients and Families

Improving Health Care Quality

Agency for Healthcare 

Research and Quality
This booklet was produced in a cooperative effort by the

agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services

(HHS), under the leadership of Secretary Donna E. Shalala: 

Administration for Children and Families

Administration on Aging

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Food and Drug Administration

Health Care Financing Administration

Health Resources and Services Administration

Indian Health Service

National Institutes of Health

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

To learn more about the wealth of evidence-based information these

agencies provide, visit the HHS Web site at www.hhs.gov. 

For more information about quality health care, visit the HHS gateway

to reliable health information at www.healthfinder.gov.

For partnerships to produce this or a more detailed version, contact the

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) at 800-358-

9295 or write to AHRQ Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 8547, Silver Spring,

MD 20907.
A Guide to Better Health Care

Quality

This booklet presents information and a list of resources

to help you get better quality health care. You can read the

booklet all the way through or turn to the sections that

interest you the most.

To learn more about what affects health care quality

and how you can become involved, read pages 2 to 5.

To learn about measuring health care quality and

where to find measurement tools, read pages 6 to 11.

For tips to help you make more informed health care

decisions, read pages 11 to 14.

For information on how you can find out about

clinical trials, turn to page 14.

For a list of resources, including Internet sites and

phone numbers, see pages 15 to 18.

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Every day, millions of Americans receive highquality health care. They get the right care, at the

right time, and in the right way. And, they get the

best possible results. 

But every once in a while, something goes wrong. People

receive health care services they don’t need. Or they can’t

get care when they need it. Sometimes, people are affected

by medical errors that could have been prevented. A

medical error is a mistake that happens when a person gets

health care services. 

The fact is, health care quality varies. There are many

reasons for this because quality depends on many things,

including where you live, who you are, and how much is

known about treating your condition.
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The good news is,

things are getting better

—and you can help!

Health care providers and groups are working hard

to improve health care quality. You can help, too.

You can take steps to improve the quality of your

own health care. Research has shown that if you are more

involved in your health care, you can get better results and

feel more satisfied. Here’s what you can do:

Work together with your doctor, nurse, and other health

care providers to make decisions about your care.

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take. Be

sure to include prescription drugs, over-the-counter

drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Don’t forget

to tell the doctor about any allergies or side effects you

have had in the past from medicines. This is very

important when your doctor gives you a new

prescription.
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When you pick up your prescription from the drug

store, read the label right away. Make sure it is what the

doctor ordered for you.

If you have several health problems or are in a hospital,

many people may be involved in your care. Make sure

that someone (such as your personal doctor) is in

charge of your care. Speak often with that person. Ask

a family member or friend to be part of your health

care team if you are very sick or need major surgery.

Ask questions, and keep asking them until you

understand the answers. You have a right to speak with

anyone who is involved with your care.

Don’t assume that “no news is good news” when you

have an x-ray or laboratory test. Ask your doctor or

nurse about when and how you will receive the results.

Will it be in person, by mail, or by phone? If you don’t

receive the results when you expect them, contact your

doctor and ask for them.
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If you are having surgery, make sure that you, your

doctor, and your surgeon all agree on what will be

done. Find out what you can do before and after

surgery to speed your recovery.

Ask your doctor what the scientific evidence has to say

about your condition and treatment options. Also, if

you have access to a computer, go to the Agency for

Healthcare Research and Quality’s Web site at

www.ahrq.gov and click on “Quality Assessment.”

There you will find fact sheets and other information

on health care quality.

Know that “more is not always better.” Be sure to find

out why you need a test or treatment and how it can help

you. You could be better off without it.

When making health care choices, find and use

information about quality measures. This booklet tells

you how.
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How is quality measured?

More and more public and private groups are

developing and using quality measures.

Measures are used to check up on and improve

the quality of health plans, doctors, hospitals, and other

providers of health care. Consumer ratings and

performance measures are the two main types of quality

measures.

Consumer ratings tell you what people like you think

about their health care. Consumer ratings of health

plans may come from a survey called CAHPS®. The

survey was developed by the Agency for Healthcare

Research and Quality. The questions in CAHPS® ask

people about the quality of care in their own health

plans. Their answers can help you decide whether you

want to join one of those plans. To find out more about

CAHPS®, go to the AHRQ web site at www.ahrq.gov

and click on “CAHPS” under the heading “Quality

Assessment.”
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Clinical performance measures (also sometimes

called “technical quality” measures) look at how well a

health plan or hospital prevents and treats illnesses.

HEDIS - the Health Plan Employer Data and

Information Set - is a set of performance measures that

rates the quality of HMOs and other managed care

plans. One example of a HEDIS measure is whether

health care providers in the plan advise smokers to quit. 

Both CAHPS® and HEDIS are based on research about the

kinds of health care that lead to better results for patients.

Where are these measures?

Today, you can find a great deal of information

about health care quality. And much more is on the

way. Here is a brief look at what is available now

and where you can find it:

Quality reports. Quality reports include consumer

ratings, clinical performance measures, or both. These
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reports go by different names, including report cards

and performance reports. Quality reports can help you

select the right treatment, based on the things that are

most important to you. You may be able to get quality

reports from:

Your employer. Ask your personnel office for

information on the plan or plans that are offered.

Health plans. Ask the plan’s customer service office.

Other health care providers, such as hospitals,

nursing homes, or community health clinics.

If you need help, check with your local library or your

local or State department of health. You can find your

State department of health listed in the blue pages of your

phone book. 

Also, look for these quality reports, which are based on

consumer ratings from CAHPS®:
For quality reports about Medicare managed care plans,

call 1-800-MEDICARE, or look for Medicare Compare

at www.medicare.gov (Medicare Compare is also based

on HEDIS).

For quality reports about Federal employee health

plans, visit the Office of Personnel Management Web

site at www.opm.gov/hr/insure/index.html.

Another type of quality measurement is accreditation.

Accreditation is a “seal of approval” given by a private,

independent group. Health care organizations must meet

national standards - including clinical performance

measures - in order to be accredited. Some organizations,

such as group practices, do not have such a program

available. Accreditation is done by a number of groups.

Some of them are:

The National Committee for Quality Assurance

(NCQA). NCQA evaluates and accredits managed care

plans. Call 888-275-7585 to find out if a health plan is

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accredited. Or call 800-839-6487 to ask for

accreditation information. NCQA’s Web address is

www.ncqa.org.

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare

Organizations. JCAHO evaluates and accredits

hospitals, health care networks, and managed care

organizations. JCAHO also accredits health care

organizations that provide home care, long-term care,

behavioral health care, and laboratory and ambulatory

care services. For information, visit Quality Check -

www.jcaho.org/qualitycheck/ - on JCAHO’s Web site,

or call 630-792-5000.

American Accreditation HealthCare

Commission/URAC. This group develops accreditation

standards and programs for managed care. Call 

202-216-9010 for information on accredited

organizations. Or visit URAC’s Web site at

www.urac.org/accredited.htm.
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Community Health Accreditation Program. CHAP

evaluates and accredits home health care organizations.

To find out more, call CHAP at 800-669-9656, ext.

242. Or visit CHAP’s Web site at

www.chapinc.org/chap-consumer.htm.

Choosing quality health care

Here are some tips for including quality in your

health care decisions. Such decisions involve

health plans, doctors, treatments, hospitals, and

long-term care:

Look for a health plan that:

Has been given high ratings by its members on the

things that are important to you.

Does a good job of helping people stay well and get better.

Has the doctors and hospitals you want or need.

Provides the benefits (covered services) you need.

Provides services where and when you need them.
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Look for a doctor who:

Has received high ratings for quality of care.

Has the training and experience to meet your needs.

Takes steps to prevent illness - for example, will talk to

you about getting the screening tests that are right for

you.

Can get you admitted to or treat you at the hospital of

your choice.

Is part of your health plan, unless you are willing to

pay extra.

Will work with you to make decisions about your

health care.

When choosing a treatment, make sure you

understand:

Your diagnosis.

How soon you need to be treated.
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Your treatment choices.

Whether the treatments are based on the latest

scientific evidence.

The benefits and risks of each treatment.

The costs of each treatment.

How much experience your doctor has in treating your

condition.

Look for a hospital that:

Is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation

of Healthcare Organizations.

Is rated highly by the State and by consumer groups or

other organizations.

Is one where your doctor can treat you.

Is covered by your health plan.
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Has a lot of experience and success with your

condition.

Monitors quality of care and works to improve quality.

Look for a long-term-care facility that:

Has been found by State agencies and other groups to

provide quality care.

Provides a level of care, including staff and services,

that will meet your needs.

Clinical Trials

I

f you need treatment, you may be able to take part in

a research study called a clinical trial. Clinical trials

are used to find out whether new drugs or treatments

are safe and effective. The National Institutes of Health

(NIH) has a Web site with information about many of the

clinical trials that are in progress. Visit

www.nih.gov/health/trials to learn if a clinical trial is
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underway for your condition and whether you might be

able to take part in it.

For more information

The more you know about your condition and its

treatment, the more likely you are to get the best

possible care and results. If you have access to a

computer and the Internet you can find information on

every health topic. 

If you don’t have a computer, check with your local

library. Most libraries have computers you can use and

staff that can help you learn to search the Internet. 

Here are a few places to go for more information and

other kinds of help.

A good place to start is www.healthfinder.gov where

you can tap into reliable consumer health information

from the Federal Government and its many partners.

Healthfinder can link you to:
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- Hundreds of Web sites with consumer health

information.

- Online publication catalogs and ordering information.

- Online brochures and other documents.

- Databases and search engines to help you find even

more information.

For Medicare information, check out

http://medicare.gov where you can view, download, and

order Medicare and other publications on health.

Online information about doctors is available in some

States. Go to www.docboard.org to see if your State is

included.

Visit the American Medical Association’s Web site at

www.ama-assn.org or call the AMA at 

1-800-665-2882.
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Support groups. Self-help groups offer support to

people with disabilities, cancer, and many other kinds

of health problems. For information on national support

groups and groups near you, go to

www.healthfinder.gov and type “self-help” in the

search box. Then click on “go.” This will take you to

the American Self-Help Clearinghouse.

Board certification. Call the American Board of

Medical Specialties at 1-800-776-2378 to find out if a

doctor is board certified.

Accreditation. Call the Joint Commission on

Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (1-630-792-

5800) or go to their Web site at www.jcaho.org to find

out if a hospital, nursing home, or outpatient surgery

facility is accredited. Other accrediting organizations

include: the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory

Healthcare, 1-847-853-6060, www.aaahc.org for urgent

or emergency care centers; the Community Health

Accreditation Program 1-800-669-9656, 
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www.chapinc.org for home health care agencies; the

National Committee for Quality Assurance, 1-888-275-

7585, www.ncqa.org for managed care health plans; the

American Accreditation HealthCare

Commission/URAC, 1-202-216-9010, www.urac.org

also for managed care; and many others. 

Resources for the Elderly. Contact the Eldercare

Locator (1-800-677-1116, weekdays, 9 am to 8 pm

EST). This service can refer you to your Area Agency

on Aging where you can get information on meals,

home care, adult day care, long-term care,

transportation, legal services, and more.

Information on Health Plans. Check your local phone

book for your State’s department of health or the

insurance commissioner’s office. Contact the National

Association of Insurance Commissioners online at

www.naic.org or call 1-816-842-3600.
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For more copies of this booklet:

Call the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse at 

1-800-358-9295 (410-381-3150 from outside the United

States only) and ask for AHRQ Publication No. 01-0004.

To find out more about the Agency for Healthcare

Research and Quality, go to www.ahrq.gov to visit 

our Web site.

Dear reader: We have listed a number of

organizations, Web sites, and phone numbers in

this booklet to help you find out more about

health care quality. This information is provided only as a

service to readers and does not imply endorsement or

promotion by the Government of these organizations, any

products or services they offer, or any groups they may

link with through their Web sites.
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AHRQ Pub. No. 01-0004

October 2000

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services