Aug. 24--Getting quality health care helps consumers stay healthy and recover faster when they become sick, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Yet, according to two annual agency reports on the quality of health care, the gap between the best possible care and the actual care patients receive remains large. Agency research also shows the quality of care varies widely across the country, and continuing improvement in health care is possible but changes take time.
AHRQ is the federal government's lead office in efforts to improve the quality, safety, and effectiveness of health care for Americans.
A 2004 study of 12 large U.S. communities found that 54.9 percent of people were receiving the care they needed.
In its "Guide to Healthcare Quality: How to Know It When You See It," AHRQ offers tips to help people stay healthy, recover faster and be active in making decisions about health care.
When choosing a health plan, AHRQ recommends looking for one that: has been given high ratings by its members on the provisions most important to them; offers access to the doctors and hospitals the consumer wants or needs; covers services when and where they are needed; and has a documented history of doing a good job of preventing and treating illness.
Free copies of the agency's "National Healthcare Quality Report" and "National Healthcare Disparities Report" are available by calling 1-800-358-9295 or e-mailing ahrqpubs@ahrq.gov.
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