Use these Discovery Health tools to take control of your healthcare
Active, informed patients get better outcomes from their care than disengaged consumers, writes Discovery Health CEO
In last week’s column, I wrote about Discovery’s shared-value health insurance model, through which we are working with our members and their doctors to improve the quality of healthcare while bringing down costs. A critical success factor in this model is that all of us need to become well-informed healthcare consumers rather than passive patients. I often tell colleagues that most of us spend more time researching our next car purchase or cellphone contract than we do potentially life-altering medical decisions. This makes little sense. Medical decisions require care and due diligence. Many procedures can pose significant risks and should be done only if necessary and in careful consultation with treating doctors. There is growing international evidence that active, informed healthcare consumers, working in close partnership with doctors, get better outcomes from their care than passive, disengaged patients. As a result, healthcare systems are seeking ways of encouraging patients ...
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