Effective communication improves health outcomes
At MQ Health we aim to partner with our patients and their carers, as well as broader healthcare teams, to ensure we optimise your health and wellbeing when you're in our care and beyond.
Effective communication with your healthcare team ensures your prescribed management or treatment are best suited to your needs.
A growing body of evidence emphasises the importance of effective self-management of long-term health conditions.
Its important to talk to your healthcare team about your condition. This will help you develop the confidence you need to self-manage your health.
If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your healthcare team, ask a partner, relative or friend to go with you to your appointments in the clinic or doctor visits in the hospital.
We encourage you to take notes and be an active participant in the conversation. Don't be afraid to ask your healthcare provider to explain something in a different way if you don't understand the first time.
Questions to ask your healthcare provider
We understand that talking to health professionals can be daunting for some people.
We've put together a list of key questions to help you get the important information you need to stay informed about your healthcare.
- What are the risks of my procedure or medication?
- What are the side effects?
- What tests do I need?
- Will my test results be accurate?
- Will I need more tests in future?
- Will I need another treatment in future?
- What are the other options?
- What healthy lifestyle changes can I make?
- Where can I learn more about my condition?
- What happens if I don't have the treatment?
- What are the costs?
- Where can I learn more about rebates?
You can also watch our interview with Associate Professor Andrew Davidson discussing five questions to ask your health care provider.
Second opinions
If you’re unhappy or unsure about the advice you have received at MQ Health or elsewhere, especially if your condition or the prescribed treatment seems complex, ask for a second opinion.
At MQ Health, all of our clinicians will comfortably offer a second opinion service.
If you'd like to learn more about second opinions, watch our video with Associate Professor Andrew Davidson.
Providing feedback
We value your feedback and see it as a gift to enable us to constantly improve the services we offer to patients.
Please provide feedback directly to your healthcare team or anonymously through our patient feedback survey.
We conduct patient feedback surveys as a regular monitoring of our care to patients. This survey is underpinned by our principles of care.
You may take our survey at any time or email us at feedback@mqhealth.org.au
Top tips for safe healthcare
View the information on Top tip safe care booklet when talking to your healthcare team.