Patients should ask questions

In this day and age, health care consumers need to be particularly wise in the choice of their health care services as many options are available. In the realm of medical procedures and treatments this is particularly true. Happily, medicine has benefited greatly from advances in technology over the years. These are the advances that have allowed for a wider range of choice for health care consumers with regard to their care.

Today, medical procedures and even operations that previously required hospitalization can now be performed as outpatient procedures in a variety of settings with the same safety, effectiveness and quality of care. This variety of choice empowers consumers to make their own decisions regarding where they wish their care to be delivered. When this opportunity to choose arises, health care consumers should inquire about quality and safety as well as cost. Cost for the very same procedure, performed in the very same fashion, using the very same implements and holding to the very same standards can vary widely from one setting to another. By choosing wisely consumers can ensure the quality of their health care as well as minimize the cost.

Health care consumers should not be shy about addressing these issues with their doctor. The wise health care consumer can ensure the quality of their care and reduce the cost, sometimes quite significantly, by being aware of their options and taking the initiative to choose among them.

DR. MATTHEW J. COLEMAN, Cape Girardeau