Medical Resources For Patients
As a patient, navigating the healthcare system can be challenging. You need the best information about your care and treatment. But where’s the best place to find it? And how do you know if you can trust what you read?
Signature Healthcare Foundation is here to help. Below, we’ve compiled a list of links with information about health services, organized by category. Whether you’re trying to understand what your insurance will cover, check the ratings of a hospital, or looking for a place to start your own research, the sites below can help guide you to make the best decision for yourself and your care.
Use the quick links below to jump to the appropriate section, or scroll down. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, try the “General Information” tab below.
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Understanding My Medical Bill
The following links can help you understand your medical bills, including breaking down costs and unfamiliar terms:
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, “Understanding Your Hospital Bill” https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000881.htm
- FamilyDoctor.org, “Understanding Your Medical Bills” https://familydoctor.org/understanding-your-medical-bills/
- HFMA, “Understanding Healthcare Prices” https://www.aha.org/system/files/2018-04/14transparency-consumerguide.pdf
Understanding What My Insurance Covers
These links can help you understand what is covered by your health insurance. Please note that this information may vary from insurer to insurer, so it’s also best to go onto your insurance company’s website or contact them.
- FamilyDoctor.org “Health Insurance: Understanding What It Covers” https://familydoctor.org/health-insurance-understanding-covers/
- FAIR Health Consumer, “Insurance Basics” https://www.fairhealthconsumer.org/insurance-basics/home
- Healthcare.Gov, “Essential Health Benefits” https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/essential-health-benefits/
Information On Treatments, Tests, And Procedures
Information on treatments, tests, and procedures
These links provide insights into treatments, tests and procedures, including definitions of services and patient experience:
- Federal Healthfinder https://healthfinder.gov
- Choosing Wisely, “Patient Resources” http://www.choosingwisely.org/patient-resources/
- Harvard Medical, “Health Dictionary” https://www.health.harvard.edu/a-through-c
- FamilyDoctor.org, “Health Dictionary” https://familydoctor.org/your-health-resources/health-tools/dictionary/
- Iodine.com (information about medicine) https://www.iodine.com
What Should I Ask My Doctor?
These links provide great information on how to talk to your doctor, and questions to ask to be sure you understand everything about your health. Tip: talk more, not less!
- Signature Healthcare Foundation, “Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Doctor” https://www.signaturefoundation.org/questions-you-should-ask-about-healthcare-costs/
- Cleveland Clinic, “Questions to Ask Your Doctor” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/patients/information/questions-to-ask-your-doctor
- National Institute of Health, “Talking to Your Doctor” https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/talking-your-doctor
- Johns Hopkins, “Don’t be Shy: 4 Tips for Talking to Your Doctor” https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy-woman/conditions/dont-be-shy-4-tips-for-talking-to-your-doctor
- Family Doctor.org, “Tips For Talking to Your Doctor” https://familydoctor.org/tips-for-talking-to-your-doctor/
Comparing Costs
Healthcare can be expensive. The sites below can help calculate your potential costs for procedures and treatments, help you find what a fair price is for your needs, and compare costs between providers. That makes sure you get great treatment without being overcharged.
- HealthCare Blue Book https://healthcarebluebook.com
- Guroo https://www.guroo.com/#!
- FAIR Health Consumer https://www.fairhealthconsumer.org
Hospital Ratings
These links help you find information about hospitals, and compare hospitals with one another in categories such as quality of care and medication safety, allowing you to make the best decision about where to be treated.
- Choose Well Hospital Rankings http://www.choosewellstl.org/hospital
- Leap Frog Group Hospital Rankings http://www.leapfroggroup.org
- Medicare Hospital Search https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.html?
- Hospital Safety Grade http://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org
Doctor Ratings
These links discuss what goes into finding a good doctor. They also provide doctor ratings, so you can find the best care for yourself or loved ones.
- Choose Well St. Louis area, “Doctor Search” http://www.choosewellstl.org/doctor-search/
- Checkbook Surgeon Ratings https://www.checkbook.org/surgeonratings/article/getting-best-care
- Checkbook, “Finding a Good Surgeon” https://www.checkbook.org/surgeonratings/article/finding-a-good-surgeon
Find a Doctor or Hospital
The links below are tools that can assist in finding a doctor or hospital near your location. Many include information about the medical providers to help you make informed decisions.
- Choose Well St. Louis http://www.choosewellstl.org
- Consumer Reports, “How to Find a Good Doctor” https://www.consumerreports.org/doctors/how-to-find-a-good-doctor/
- US News, “Find Doctors” https://health.usnews.com/doctors
- US News, “Best Hospitals in St. Louis” https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/saint-louis-mo
- US News, “Best Hospitals in Kansas City” https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/kansas-city-mo
Background Information (Help Me Do Research)
The following are links to additional resources that can help you do your own medical research:
- National Institute of Health, “Web Resources” https://nccih.nih.gov/health/webresources
- The JAMA Network, “Patient Information” https://jamanetwork.com/collections/6258/patient-information
General Healthcare Information
Didn’t see what you were looking for above, or just curious about healthcare? Here’s a comprehensive list of resources to browse.
- U.S. National Library of Health https://medlineplus.gov
- American Medical Association Patient Health Resources https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/patient-health-resources
- MVP Healthcare https://swp.mvphealthcare.com
- MVP Healthcare FAQ https://swp.mvphealthcare.com/wps/wcm/connect/cc0eb547-9a1e-4cb3-9d87-494a2952ccf7/MVP_Health_Care_AnswersToMost-AskedQuestions.pdf?MOD=AJPERES
- Guroo.com https://www.guroo.com/#!
- FAIR Health Consumer https://www.fairhealthconsumer.org
- http://www.opscost.com
- HFMA Consumer Guide http://www.hfma.org/consumerguide/
- Federal HealthFinder https://healthfinder.gov
- https://familydoctor.org/health-insurance-understanding-covers/
- https://familydoctor.org/understanding-your-medical-bills/
- U.S. National Library of Health Patient Resources https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000881.htm
- ChoosingWisely.org, “Patient Resources” http://www.choosingwisely.org/patient-resources/
- Checkbook, “Finding a Good Surgeon” https://www.checkbook.org/surgeonratings/article/finding-a-good-surgeon
- Checkbook, “Doing Your Own Medical Research” https://www.checkbook.org/surgeonratings/article/doing-your-own-medical-research
- Checkbook, “Getting the Best Care” https://www.checkbook.org/surgeonratings/article/getting-best-care
- Castlight Health, “Solutions for Employers” https://www.castlighthealth.com/solutions/
- Cleveland Clinic, “Questions to ask your Doctor” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/patients/information/questions-to-ask-your-doctor
- Medicare Hospital Rankings https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.html?
- HospitalSafetyGrade.org http://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org
- https://www.iodine.com (medicine)
- National Institute of Health, “Finding Online Resources” https://nccih.nih.gov/health/webresources
- ParticipatoryMedicine.org https://participatorymedicine.org/epatients/