Taking Charge

Patients are often presented with a variety of treatments, medications and procedures that can be complicated and sometimes difficult to understand, both in terms of the expected result, but also in terms of possible side effects. One of the best ways to overcome this challenge is for patients to ask a lot of questions of their healthcare providers, so they can make the most-informed decisions for their own care. Patients can also play an important role in preventing infections while they are in the hospital.

Medications can be very costly, but sometimes there are ways to get the medications you need at a lower cost.

Watch this clip to help understand why communicating with your healthcare team in the hospital, and having an advocate for your behalf, is important.

It's important to remember that as a hospital patient, you have rights.

Watch this video to learn why it's important to get a second opinion.