• Why are you recommending this test?
• How is the test done?
• What kind of information will the test provide?
• Is this test the only way to find out that information?
• What are the benefits and risks of having this test?
• How accurate is the test?
• What do I need to do to prepare for the test?
• Will the test be uncomfortable?
• How long will it take to get the test results, and how will I get them?
• How much does the test cost? Will my health insurance pay for it?
• What is the next step after the test?

Treatments:

• What is the recommended treatment? Are there other choices?
• What are the chances the treatment will work?
• What are the expected results? When will I see them?
• What are the risks?
• What are the benefits?
• Are there any side effects? What can be done about them?
• Is the treatment painful? How can the main be controlled?
• What happens if I choose to have no treatment at all?
• How much does the treatment cost? Will my health insurance pay for it?

Surgery:

• Do I really need this surgery? Is there some other way to treat my condition?
• What will happen if I wait until later to have surgery? Or never have it at all?
• How often does this type of surgery help my problem? How much does it help it?
• Where will the surgery be performed?
• Does it have a lot of experience with this kind of procedure?
• Which surgeon will be operating on me?
• Does s/he have a lot of experience with this kind of procedure?
• What complications or side effects might I have?
• What kind of pain might I have? How will it be treated?
• How long will it take me to recover?
• Will I need help at home? What kind of help and for how long?
• Will my health insurance pay for any of it?
• How much does the surgery cost? Will my health insurance pay for it?

Excerpted from: Your Guide to Choosing Quality Health Care, by the federal Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. To order a free copy, call toll free 1-800-358-9295. They also have available other free brochures of interest:

Be Informed:

• Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Surgery
• Prescription Medicines and You
• Pain Control After Surgery