Recall the last time you made a big purchase. Did you buy the first thing you saw, take a recommendation from a trusted friend, or did you research and compare products? When it comes to big expenses, most tend to spend a good amount of time weighing out the options. But why do we often fail to do this with healthcare? By becoming a more active healthcare consumer, we can go from a passive patient to an active participant in weighing out treatment options and choices. Here are some recommended questions to talk through with your practitioner to help you make knowledgable and informed decisions in the driver’s seat.
What are the benefits or expected results?
When a treatment or procedure is recommended, patients often assume that it will automatically make them “better.” But what the patient expects and what the healthcare provider expects are often two different things. For example, a patient suffering from back pain may opt for a suggested back surgery with the expectation to be pain free. However, surgeons should share with their patients that not all surgical outcomes can meet this expectation. A large study examining the work-related back injuries of 1450 patients in the Ohio Worker’s Compensation System showed that after 2 years only 26% of patients who had surgery were able to returned to work, compare to 67% of patients who didn’t have surgery and may have opted for physical therapy instead. The study also showed a 41% increase in the use of painkiller drugs in the surgical group.
What are the risks and downsides?
Patients want to hear about the benefits of a treatment, but they often don’t realize to ask about the risks. This is an important step of being an active consumer. In the surgical group from the Ohio Worker’s Compensation study, researchers found a 1 in 4 chance for a repeat surgery and a 1 in 3 chance of a major complication. Surgical risks can include infection, blood clots, anesthesia complications, and a whole host of other things. These risks should be heavily weighed. Fortunately, physical therapy is a valid alternative to back surgery with a much lower risk profile. Researchers have even concluded supervised physical therapy is preferred over surgery as first-choice treatment.
What are the alternatives?
Don’t feel bad asking about alternative treatments. It’s your right as a patient. If you were looking to buy a car, you wouldn’t just take the first car the dealer recommended. You’d consider competitors and at least take a test drive. The same can apply to healthcare. Research shows that more than 40% of people who seek care for back pain will not receive a treatment of known effectiveness and many patients who are recommended surgery are never given an option to try physical therapy first. Why jump to surgery when effective conservative options are known.
What’s it cost?
This question is becoming more crucial as patients continue to bear an increased share of their cost of healthcare. With high deductibles, steep premiums, and hefty co-pays, the financial burden of seeking help can start to add up. By asking the right questions, you may be saving yourself a fortune in the long run. Back surgery can cost tens of thousands of dollars and still can provide questionable outcomes. Don’t forget that 20% of patients can require repeated surgery. An educated consumer who asks the right questions can learn that physical therapy is a viable alternative to surgery, with comparable outcomes and a lower cost. In fact, a large study of 122,723 subjects showed that people with back pain who got physical therapy in the first 14 days lowered their overall healthcare costs by 60%.
Now that you know what to ask, you can balance the risks and benefits with your practitioner and make the choice that feels right for you.
