FRIDAY, Jan. 6, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- A new brochure to help people make informed decisions about surgery is available from the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
The brochure "Having Surgery? What You Need to Know" suggests questions that patients should ask in order to get more information. These include: how and where the operation will be performed; what kind of anesthesia will be used; if non-surgical medical treatment and watchful waiting are options; possible risks of not having the surgery; potential risks and expected benefits from the surgery; and expected length of recovery.
Other questions should help patients learn whether and how much of the operation will be covered by their insurance; whether they should seek a second opinion; how they can get information about the surgeon's qualifications; and how many times the surgery has been performed in the hospital suggested by the surgeon.
"In today's increasingly complex medical environment, patients would be well advised to learn as much about their surgery as possible and to discuss all of the options with their doctors and surgeons," Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy, AHRQ director, said in a prepared statement.
"People tend to be more satisfied with their care when they know why they need surgery, whether effective options exist, which surgeons and hospitals are most qualified to perform their operation, and the potential risks and expected benefits," Clancy noted.
The brochure is available in both English and Spanish.
More information
Here's where to find the English brochure and the Spanish brochure.
