Choose Well: The Basics

Numerous studies show that patient involvement in health care improves outcomes and lowers costs. A variety of tools are available to help patients make more informed decisions about their health care.

In 2008 King County surveyed its employees and their spartners to see which tools would be most useful to them. Employees indicated that they were more interested in receiving information about the quality and cost of health care (i.e., ratings of the quality of local hospitals and health care providers, comparisons of the costs of medical treatment at different clinics and hospitals) than in specific health-related topics (e.g., children’s health, stress management, and prescription drugs). The majority of employees also indicated that they “definitely” or “probably” would use each of the on-line tools with health-related information that were mentioned in the survey.

In response to these findings, and based on what experts say will be most empowering to people in taking charge of their own health care decision, we are putting powerful tools at the fingertips of our employees and their spartners. These tools tell you:

• Where to get the best possible health care in the region.
  
  
• How to save thousands of dollars for a medical procedure.
  
  
• What medical evidence shows is the best course of treatment for certain health conditions.
  
  
• You will also have access to credible information about health conditions tailored to your needs.
  
  
• And you can communicate better with your doctor.
  
  
• Quality prescription drugs for the lowest price.