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| Mirna Cortes-Obers |
PULSE of NY offers patient safety education in Spanish and English!
Mirna Cortes-Obers has been working at the Central American Refugee Center (CARECEN) since 1991. Since 2008, as part of her work at CARECEN, she has been a health advocate for the Hispanic community. Ms. Cortes has assisted individual Hispanic immigrants with obtaining access to affordable and quality health care by ensuring that they are provided both language and financial assistance as required by law. Ms. Cortes has degrees in Public Relations and Sociology and has completed courses toward a Master's Degree in Humanities.
Choosing a Hospital or Doctor
A common concern that is shared with PULSE of NY is how to choose a doctor or hospital. It makes us feel vulnerable when we have a choice and fear we may make the wrong one. So how should we choose?
Web MD Suggests look for a hospital that:
- Is accredited by the Joint Commission.
- Is rated highly by State or consumer or other groups.
- Is one where your doctor has privileges, if that is important to you.
- Is covered by your health plan.
- Has experience with your condition.
- Has had success with your condition.
- Checks and works to improve its own quality of care.
Choosing a doctor is a difficult task too but an important one.
From Consumer Reports:
Choosing a doctor is one of the most important things you will do in your life. You will trust this person for his or her expertise, advice and to administer treatment that may save your life.
Try to avoid picking a doctor at random from your health plan's list or out of the phone book. In a recent Consumer Reports survey, people who found their physicians through someone they trusted--a friend, a family member, or another doctor--had the most favorable experiences. (We found a similar phenomenon in a 2004 survey of consumers who visited mental-health professionals.)
If you're picking a doctor to care for a specific condition, ask about how often he or she treats cases similar to yours. Patients we surveyed who took this step were more satisfied with their care. You can also ask the doctor about specialty board certification, which requires advanced training and the passing of rigorous tests.
Try to avoid picking a doctor at random from your health plan's list or out of the phone book. In a recent Consumer Reports survey, people who found their physicians through someone they trusted--a friend, a family member, or another doctor--had the most favorable experiences. (We found a similar phenomenon in a 2004 survey of consumers who visited mental-health professionals.)
If you're picking a doctor to care for a specific condition, ask about how often he or she treats cases similar to yours. Patients we surveyed who took this step were more satisfied with their care. You can also ask the doctor about specialty board certification, which requires advanced training and the passing of rigorous tests.
No matter what hospital we choose, it’s important to remember good things come out of every hospital. Just the same, every hospital has the potential to cause an unplanned outcome or even an injury to a patient. It is therefore just as important that the patient and the family or friend, is also prepared with important information. See our Quick Guide to Patient Advocacy
Helpful Information:
To contact PULSE of NY for help as an advocate for a family member or friend or for a speaker or program, call (516) 579-4711.
If you are receiving this as a forward and want to be added to our e-mail update go to PULSEUpdates and sign up.
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