In health care, high-value care means receiving high-quality care at the right price that leads to the best possible health outcome and reflects your values and needs. We put a lot of work into finding value when it comes to other major purchases. We should all be savvy shoppers when it comes to our health, too. You have the right to demand high-value care at every step.
Read MoreSpokane Housing Authority (SHA) will accept online pre-applications for The 2016 Open Waiting List of the Housing Choice Voucher Program from 12 a.m. on January 19 to 3 p.m. on January 21.
The pre-application can be found at www.spokanehousing.org.
Only one pre-application per household will be accepted. Applications must be at least 18 years old. Pre-applications will be placed on the waiting list by time and date of receipt of the pre-application and preference. Applicants without a preference will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list according the date of receipt of the application.
Preferences are:
For assistance applying online, visit:
Note: After placement on the 2016 waiting list, applicants must notify Spokane Housing Authority of any mailing address changes in writing otherwise you may be removed from the waiting list.
This January, Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS) is offering a free six-week workshop for individuals who want to take control of their diabetes. Family members and caregivers are also welcome.
Read MoreOne of the discussions in our region is about how rural areas score in quality? Well, according to Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Chartbook on Rural Health, not too good.
Read MoreThe price of health care in Washington state is all over the map. In fact, some health care providers charge as much as twice (or more) than what other providers charge for the same procedure, such as joint replacement or the birth of a child, even though the patients they see aren’t any sicker.
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When you enter a doctor’s office, what kind of experience do you have? Does the staff treat you with respect? Does your doctor listen to you and seem to know your medical history? Are you able to get a timely appointment when you need it?
Read MoreEvery year around this time, I take a few moments to think about what has transpired over the past twelve months.
Read MoreFrom Washington Health Alliance | November 23, 2015
Quality varies widely from one provider’s office to another and even from one doctor’s patient to another. Not all care is equally good. Learn what you can do to find a provider that will help you stay healthy and care for you when you need it.
Good health care is the right care, at the right time, for the right reason. The quality of health care varies, but trustworthy, public information can help you decide what test or treatment is best for you and if the care meets accepted standards.
Doctors committed to quality will not only welcome your involvement but also encourage it. While your doctor should be able to direct you to reliable information on a health topic that affects you and talk to you about your options, you have a major role to play when it comes to your health and well-being.
Compare care. Finding a good primary care team is the first step in getting high-quality care. Go to the Community Checkup website where you can “shop” for a clinic in your health plan’s network to see how well they rate on quality measures that matter to you. The quality measures that were chosen for this website serve as a proxy for the overall quality of the care delivered by that clinic. For example, even if you don’t have diabetes, seeing how well a clinic is following recommended care guidelines for that disease can signal to you how well they treat any chronic disease.
Make an informed choice. After you’ve looked at options on the website, contact the clinic and ask questions to see if they would be a good fit. Do they offer hours that are convenient to you? Do they accept your insurance? Do the providers have knowledge or specialized expertise in the health areas that matter to you or your family?
Be an active member of your health care team. Do your homework. Go online or use the library to learn more about your condition and treatment options before your doctor’s appointment. Talk to your doctor about what you’ve learned. After your visit, take an active role in your health and health care so you can stay as healthy as you can. Your primary care doctor may tell you to exercise more or eat better, but it’s up to you to follow through on this advice.
Get the right amount of care. Unnecessary care costs money and can be harmful. Patients with chronic conditions do not always get the recommended care. Many people don’t get regular screenings, which can detect disease earlier. Certain drugs, treatments and tests are sometimes offered for common health complaints even though they aren’t really effective. Learn more about the value and effectiveness of specific tests and procedures at Choosing Wisely® patient resources.
Work with your doctor to make decisions about your care. This is sometimes known as “shared decision-making.” It’s important to ask questions, such as:
While health care consumers have a big role to play in ensuring they get the right care, you are not alone. Providers are the ones ultimately responsible for making sure they are delivering the right care at the right time.
Know you have options. If your expectations aren’t being met, talk to your doctor about your concerns. And if necessary, look for a new doctor.
Quality should be part of the equation for good, high-value health care, as much as patient experience and cost.
Download the infographic about how to find high-quality care and be a savvy health care shopper.
Infographic: Washington Health Alliance.
This post is second of a series called The Savvy Health Care Shopper. The Washington Health Alliance is partnering with the Washington State Health Care Authority’s Healthier Washington initiative to educate consumers on finding value in health care.
When we think about health improvement and transformation across Washington State we know that it’s going to take all of us working together in new and different ways.
Read MoreAs individual consumers, every time we make a purchase we must weigh cost and quality to determine value.
Read MoreThe Health Sciences & Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County recently announced that it has awarded a total of nearly $235,000 in one-year grants to increase access to health care for certain populations in Spokane County.
Read MoreI remember it like it was yesterday: that voice coming from the other side of the room saying, “I really don’t feel well and may need help.”
Read MoreTonight, Pastor Stephen Johnson and the volunteers from United Methodist Church, on 3rd and Howard, will transport folks to the warming center located at the Salvation Army from 7:15-8:15 pm.
They will return to the warming center at 6:45-7:45 am to transport folks back to the United Methodist Church.
If you know someone who needs a warm place to go tonight, please direct them to the United Methodist Church on 3rd and Howard.
As we approach this season of Thanksgiving, it is timely to pause and thank those who have contributed to BHT’s success over the past year.
Read MoreA free immunization clinic will be hosted during this year’s Festival of Trees. Children who bare a sleeve for their MMR, HepB, Polio, Diphtheria, Pertussis or Varicella vaccines will receive 5 raffle tickets for their troubles and pokes.
Read MoreI love Spokane. My family and I feel blessed to live in a place that is filled with beautiful landscape, amazing people and an independent spirit that makes things possible. There is a secret sauce in Eastern Washington that makes our Accountable Community of Health work. We are not waiting to be told what to do; we are making it happen.
Read MoreBehavioral health conditions, including mental illness and substance use disorders, are widespread among Medicaid’s high-need, high-cost recipients, many of whom also have chronic physical conditions.
Read MoreAt Better Health Together, we pride ourselves on being a team of tenacious problem solvers. We are always looking for ways to improve and be more effective at what we do. Here are some of our favorite reads over the past few months. Enjoy!
Read MoreSince Better Health Together’s inception roughly two years ago, we have been looking for scalable and proven solutions to improve the health of our region.
Read MoreEleven of our rural hospitals in Washington State have agreed to collaborate on the formation of a statewide Accountable Care Organization (ACO). If you are wondering what an ACO is, here’s a good primer.
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