Health information is sometimes not clear. The Ask Me 3 program run by the National Patient Safety Foundation can help. Ask Me 3 suggests three questions to ask your healthcare provider during an appointment, either for yourself or for a loved one.
The Ask Me 3 questions are:
- What is my main problem?
- What do I need to do?
- Why is it important for me to do this?
Asking questions can help you to be an active member of your healthcare team.
For example, you might think that your main health issue is that you can’t catch your breath due to asthma when, in fact, the reason you have trouble breathing is related to your heart disease.
Or you might know that you have diabetes and that you need to watch your blood sugar, but might not understand that if you don’t, your diabetes could lead to blindness.
For more information on Ask Me 3 and to view a helpful video on how to use the questions, visit the Ask Me 3 website.
This helpful information can be applied to any type of healthcare, including dental and mental health. Before your next appointment, write down the three questions, and remember to ask all three.
Ann Cochran is the health navigation coordinator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.
