AHRQ's "Questions Are the Answer" Offers Videos About the Importance of Two-Way Communication in Health Care

"Questions Are the Answer," AHRQ's ongoing public education initiative that stresses the importance of two-way communication to help make medical appointments more efficient and to help ensure accurate diagnoses, offers an array of two-minute video messages by a dozen real-life patients, caregivers and clinicians. The videos, which stress the importance of asking questions about your health care, are ideal for group presentations or for patient waiting room areas. Watch patients such as Christina Cyphers discuss how asking questions about her medicines helped her get the correct diagnosis and feel better. Ramona Seidel, M.D. explains how a simple question such as "Is it OK to take this over-the-counter medicine?" can save one’s life, and pediatric cardiologist Linda Bradley-Tiernan, M.D., talks about how she brings a list of questions to her own appointments with her physician. Access the menu of videos that are designed to promote safer care and better health outcomes.

Patient and Clinician Videos

Asking questions about your health care is a smart decision. Patients and families who engage with health care providers ask good questions and help reduce the risk of errors and hospital admissions.

In these short videos, patients talk about how simple questions can help you take better care of yourself, feel better, and get the right care at the right time. Doctors and nurses talk about how your questions help them take better care of you and give advice on how you can be an active member of your health care team and get your questions answered.

Some videos on this page require the Adobe Flash® Player, except for YouTube videos.

	Jeff Brady, M.D., M.P.H. In an "Introduction to Questions Are the Answer" find out how AHRQ is leading the charge in encouraging better communication between patients and clinicians. Watch his video (YouTube, 1 min. 45 sec.)
	Linda Bradley-Tiernan, M.D. This heart doctor brings her list of questions when she visits her doctor and says you should, too. Watch her video. (YouTube, 2 min.)
	Christina Cyphers By asking questions about her medicines, this young woman got the correct diagnosis and feels better than ever. Watch her video. (YouTube, 2 min.)
	Laurri Diener Asking questions and having a doctor who listens helped this mom find—and treat—what was ailing her Watch her video. (YouTube, 2 min. 20 sec.)
	Molly Glassman This caregiver learned that by asking questions she could keep her aging mother safe in the health care system. Watch her video. (YouTube, 3 min.)
	Jane Kapustin, Ph.D. This nurse practitioner urges her patients to pay attention to their health and bring a list of their questions to each visit. Watch her video. (YouTube, 1 min. 44 sec.)
	Bill Lee After 10 heart attacks, this man got more involved in his care. Now his heart disease and diabetes are under control. Watch his video. (YouTube, 2 min. 20 sec.)
	Alastair McGregor A close call with blood pressure medicine led this patient to always ask questions and talk with his doctor. Watch his video. (YouTube, 2 min. 42 sec.)
	Ashesh Patel, M.D. This internist says giving information about your health to doctors helps you get better care. Watch his video. (YouTube, 2 min.)
	Ramona Seidel, M.D. A simple question, such as "Is it okay to take this over-the-counter medicine?" can save your life, says this doctor. Watch her video. (YouTube, 2 min. 47 sec.)
	Douglas Smith Asking questions has served this retired engineer well—from his career to his health. Watch his video. (YouTube, 2 min.)
	Rachelle Toman, M.D., Ph.D. If you ask your hairstylist a question, notes this physician, why not ask your doctor a question? Watch her video. (YouTube, 2 min.)
	Waiting Room Video This 7-minute video features patients and clinicians discussing the importance of asking questions and sharing information. Watch this video. (YouTube, 7 min.)

Many thanks to the following for their generous assistance during the filming of these videos: Bay Crossing Family Medicine; Children's National Medical Center; Community of Hope Health Services; Erickson Living-Oak Crest; and University of Maryland Medical Center, Center for Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Page last reviewed November 2018
Page originally created August 2011

Internet Citation: Patient and Clinician Videos. Content last reviewed November 2018. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/patient-involvement/ask-your-doctor/videos/index.html