The first step in controlling your cholesterol is a balanced diet and exercise. But, even with a good diet and exercise, you may need medicine to lower your cholesterol
If you’re facing a difficult medical decision, bring someone with you who can help you take an active role in your care when you’re not fully up to it.
One in five Medicare patients go back to the hospital within 1 month, but many of the problems that sent them back could have been avoided in the first place.
You shouldn’t have to worry about getting sick because of an infection while you’re in a hospital. Unfortunately, you have reason to be concerned.
Same-day surgery can result in lower costs and for some patients safer and more convenient–but no surgery is risk-free.
Finding the right medicine for you depends on balancing the benefits, side effects, and costs.
New guides alert you to the benefits and risks of treatments based on a review of the latest studies.
“Finding the right treatment that fits your needs can sometimes be tricky.”
At an easy-to-use Web site called Hospital Compare, you can find out how often patients treated at your hospital end up returning within 30 days.
With premiums for coverage rising, it may feel more like open season on your wallet–all the more reason to know your options.
Blood thinner pills require you to make lifestyle changes, such as taking them at the same time each day and making sure you don’t injure yourself.
You hope an accident or illness won’t send you to the ER. But being prepared can help you get good, timely, and safe care when should the need arises.
By Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D.
August 18, 2009
Our parents and grandparents share family values, traditions, and heirlooms with us to help define who we are. They also pass along genes that determine our eye color, height, and risk for developing certain medical conditions.
Decades of experience have shown us that inherited risks play a large role in [...]
The concept of a “medical home”—a clinic where you are followed by a team of primary care providers who know you and can coordinate your care—is getting more attention these days. (See NPR’s story on Swedish Medical Center’s “medical home” program in Ballard below.)
Here Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare [...]
An Aspirin a Day? The Answer is Different for Men and Women
By Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D.
August 4, 2009
Throughout the ages, the differences between men and women have been the subject of plays, movies, and books. Shakespeare poked fun at the topic.
And, more recently, books with titles like Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus explored [...]
Health Effects Of Comparing Care: No Easy Answers
By Joanne Silberner, NPR News
JUL 21, 2009
This story comes from NPR, a Kaiser Health News partner.
The Obama administration and Congress are moving forward with plans to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the various medical treatments for common health conditions, despite concerns of some lawmakers and the [...]
To reduce medical errors, hospitals are forming advisory councils where patients and health care professionals work together to improve safety.
In this column, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, M.D., director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, explains how these advisory councils work.
Hospital Advisory Councils Get Patients’ View on Safer Health Care
By Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D.
July [...]
“Don’t assume your doctor has all the relevant information at his or her fingertips. Usually, in fact, the doctor does not.” — Dr. Carolyn Clancy
In this month’s column, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, provides tips on how to make sure you can get information from your medical [...]
Efforts to improve the quality of U.S. health care and reduce medical errors are proving to be disappointingly slow, writes Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in this column.
“If you get sick or have surgery, you have only a 3 in 5 chance of getting the care that’s [...]
Creating a “medical home” to help patients cope with chronic and often complicated health problems is really an old idea that is getting a new look as health providers try to find ways to improve the quality of care and reduce medical costs.
In this column, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. Agency for Health Research [...]
“It took 2 years of questions and followup before actress and health advocate Fran Drescher learned she had uterine cancer,” writes Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in her new column.
“Today,” she writes, “Ms. Drescher is an 8-year cancer survivor, due in large part to her asking questions [...]
One out of every five prescriptions written today are to treat a condition for which the drug has not been approved.
Such “off-label” use of drugs is common because under the law doctors are given considerable freedom to use their clinical judgement when it comes to practicing medicine.
Still, taking a drug for a condition for which [...]
“In health care, one size does not fit all, and treatments that are good for one patient aren’t necessarily good, or even safe, for you,” writes Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
To try to find out which treatments are best for which patients, Clancy’s agency has been supporting [...]
When you’re unhappy with the care you receive from a doctor or hospital, what can you do to be heard?
In this month’s column, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, offers tips on where you can go to find help filing a complaint.
How To Complain—And Get Heard
By Carolyn M. [...]
Despite rules limiting the hours doctors-in-training can work, a recent report by the Institute of Medicine found that many of hospital interns and residents continue to work long shifts with far too little sleep.
In this column, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. writes about efforts to reduce doctor [...]
How do you find long-term care for a family member? And how do you pay for it?
In this column, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, reviews your options.
A nursing home isn’t the only answer, Dr. Clancy writes: often there are other services, such as adult day care, meals [...]
Chronic diseases such as heart failure,high blood pressure, arthritis and diabetes don’t generally go away—but they can be managed, writes Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in her latest column.
“If you or a loved one has a chronic condition,” she writes, “you know that managing it can be [...]
Even modest weight loss can make a big difference in your health and how you feel: a loss of just 5 to 7 percent of your body weight can reduce your blood pressure, lower your risk of diabetes, and improve your cholesterol levels.
But how to get started?
In today’s column, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. [...]
When should you go to the emergency room and when is it better to wait and be seen by your regular physician? Sometimes it’s a tough call.
In this column, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, provides tips on when and how to use emergency rooms.
Calling your doctor’s office or [...]
Invisible Families: The homeless you don't see
They squeeze in with relatives, couch surf with friends or camp out in cars. More families are quietly becoming homeless, driven to the edge by a lack of jobs and affordable housing. The Seattle Times and its local news partners tackle the topic together. Project home
E-Health Records: Seattle is ahead of the curve
Health News from the Seattle Times
