The patient's voice in Washington

Our patients want a better understanding of how health care issues and legislation affect them. Our Academy believes patients should also have a voice in the formation of the policies that determine how their health care is paid for and delivered. To help our patients better understand complicated health care issues and speak up for better health care, AAFP has updated “The Patient’s Voice in Washington” resource.

The updated “The Patient’s Voice in Washington” program is two-fold:

1. Informational one-pagers, titled “Issues in Health Care,” are available via the Web (www.aafp.org/patientsvoice.xml) for members to download and display in their waiting and exam rooms. These one-pagers will explain the topic in plain English (and Spanish, when available). The Web site will also contain conversational points for doctors’ use with patients to discuss the issue and how it may affect their health care.

Members may also order a colorful cardboard easel that is specifically designed to hold copies of “Issues in Health Care.” When new pieces are available, you can just print them from the Web site noted above, place them in the easel, and set or hang the easel in the waiting or exam room. To request the easel from the AAFP, call (800) 944-0000 and ask for item #305.

1. Call-to-action pieces are available via the Web on an as-needed basis for members to download and display in their waiting and exam rooms. These call-to-action pieces will cover critical federal legislative debate on health issues and will ask patients to contact their members of Congress via e-mail, fax, phone or mail. The Web site will also contain conversational points for doctors’ use with patients to discuss the issue and how it may affect their health care.

The first three “Issues in Health Care” and conversational points are available now at the Web site noted above. The issues covered are health care coverage for all, Medicaid and family medicine training. Check back each month beginning in February for new one-pagers. AAFP will also alert members via member publications as new one-pagers are added.

AAFP will communicate this important program to members via an electronic president’s letter, articles in appropriate AAFP member news vehicles, and inclusion in officers’ presentations to members as appropriate.

Through this important AAFP program, patients will be better informed on issues that will affect their health care. Your Academy can amplify the voice of family medicine before Congress, which, will lead to better health care for patients.