Take it from those in the know-two of America’s best-known doctors and the Joint Commission, watchdog for quality and safety of health care in America-there are steps you can take to make sure you get the very best medical treatment possible.
Dr. Michael F. Roizen is a practicing anesthesiologist at the Cleveland Clinic and founder of RealAge.com. Dr. Mehmet C. Oz is a practicing cardiothoracic surgeon at New York Presbyterian/Columbia Medical Center.
Together, these doctors have joined with Joint Commission Resources to create “You: The Smart Patient: An Insider’s Handbook for Getting the Best Treatment,” a new book that shows how every patient can take charge of his or her own health care and get the best treatment available.
The book gives readers clear, definitive information on such topics as creating a health profile, choosing the right doctors and hospitals, avoiding medication errors, preventing infections, understanding prescription drugs, working with doctors to safely use alternative treatments, and helping a loved one by being his or her health care advocate.
Here are a few useful tips from the...