These are questions that you should ask when interviewing a particular outpatient care facility before deciding on whether to initiate treatment with it.
These questions are not necessarily in order of importance or priority.
Print off one sheet per facility you are going to tour. Make sure to review the answers to these questions with the Initial Outpatient Care Facility Considerations sheet to make your decision.
Name of Facility:
Name of Doctor(s) who will be treating you:
Name of nurses/office staff & who to contact to book appointments:
1) What is the center’s access to emergency equipment? (for example, anesthesia or birth complications)
2) Does the center provide follow-up care to your procedure, surgery or test? Where do you go or whom do you contact if an issue comes up after regular business hours?
Name: Phone #:
Name: Phone #:
3a) Does the center communicate with your family physician or other involved medical treatment providers? Y or N
3b) How will they communicate with other doctors? (for example, test results, progress reports, changes in medication, new recommended treatments)
4) Is the facility accredited to provide the kind of service you need? Y or N
5a) Does the facility accept your health insurance, HMO or PPO coverage? Y or N
5b) How much will the procedure/treatment cost?
5c) How much will your insurance company cover?
5d) How much will you be required to pay out of your own pocket?
6) Is the facility clean? (This is not necessarily something you need to ask so much as you need to observe on your tour.) List your observations or concerns.
7) How will the center make sure that you’re informed and provided with all possible information you need to make a decision about your treatment? What brochures or literature is available on your condition and treatment? List documents and website URLs below.
8a) What other medical conditions do you have that they should be aware of? (for example, malignant hypothermia, diabetes, or Penicillin allergy).
8b) How will they manage it during your procedure or treatment?
9a) What experience does the staff have?
9b) How long have they been in operation?
9c) What are the specialties of the various doctors?
As you investigate the various facilities and physicians, list other questions below if the topic is not covered above.
Sources:
http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/stayinghome.htm
http://www.cigna.com/healthinfo/ty7319.html#ty7375
http://www.medicare.gov/homehealthcompare/(S(4zxsx145dl3ctu3yx11x5vj5))/About/FindanAgency/CompareAgencies.aspx
Reviewed May 30, 2011
Edited by Alison Stanton