Clipboard with medical questions

Patient Rights

Patient empowerment makes a difference when you're navigating the healthcare world. Learn how to advocate for yourself, understand your patient rights, and be a smart healthcare consumer.
Hand grasping stethoscope
How Healthcare Capitation Payment Systems Work
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
Pharmacist filling prescription in pharmacy
What Does a Pharmacy Benefit Manager Do?
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
woman handing over helath insurance card
How Healthcare Providers Are Paid by Reimbursement
Fact checked by Lisa Sullivan, MS
Paramedics examining patient on stretcher
What Medical Triage Is and How It Is Used to Priortize Treatment
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
An ambulatory patient and his nurse.
How Ambulatory Is Used Frequently in Health Care
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
patient and doctor with stethoscope
Understanding Standard of Care for Patients
Fact checked by Lisa Sullivan, MS
doctor talking to patient in exam room
Why Disease Management Is an Important Part of Health Care
Medically reviewed by Isaac O. Opole, MD, PhD
Hospital emergency department
How Does EMTALA Ensure Emergency Medical Screening and Treatment?
Fact checked by Sheeren Jegtvig
Young pensive businessman is talking on his mobile phone.
How Health Insurance Policy Rescission Works
Fact checked by James Lacy
Triple Aim
What You Should Know About Health Care's Triple Aim
Fact checked by Dale Brauner
sick woman blowing nose on couch
How to Maintain a Strong Immune System
Medically reviewed by Anita C. Chandrasekaran, MD, MPH
Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus Bacteria
Tips for Preventing Iatrogenic Events During Medical Treatments
Medically reviewed by Jason DelCollo, DO
A man is paying bills online
What Does Fraudulent Medical Upcoding Cost Me?
Fact checked by Elaine Hinzey, RD
doctors using laptop
A Patient's Bill of Rights in the Medical Office
Fact checked by Lisa Sullivan, MS
6 Steps to Determine a Proper Wheelchair Fit
Fact checked by Lisa Sullivan, MS
Senior man using walker on sidewalk
Which Type of Walker Should You Choose?
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
A man using a rollator.
How Using a Rollater Can Give You More Benefits Than Walkers
Medically reviewed by Isaac O. Opole, MD, PhD
Doctor showing tablet to teenage boy in medical practice
What to Know About HIPAA
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
Woman with a cold looking at digital tablet
The Risks of Using the Internet to Self-Diagnose
Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Molina Ortiz, MD, MPH
Doctor consulting with her patient
5 Situations When Getting a Second Opinion Is Your Best Option
Fact checked by Lisa Sullivan, MS
female doctor looking in microscope
What Is Histopathology?
Fact checked by James Lacy
Woman looking out window
How to Cope With Grief From Difficult Diagnoses or Medical Errors
Fact checked by James Lacy
Senior man holding ice pack on knee
Learn the Difference Between Acute and Subacute Medical Symptoms
Fact checked by James Lacy
Although little is known about W-18, it has been implicatated in numerous drug deaths
Sepsis and Septicemia Are Not the Same
Fact checked by James Lacy
Female patient listening to diagnosis from doctor
Discover the 5 Best Ways to Make Informed Health Decisions
Fact checked by Sheeren Jegtvig
A doctor and a patient in a hospital ward.
What Indolent Means in a Medical Diagnosis
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
Antique pharmacy bottles
From Dropsy to the Grip: Modern Terms for Outdated Diagnoses
Medically reviewed by Isaac O. Opole, MD, PhD
A doctor and a patient.
Steps to Take If Your Doctor Tells You It's All in Your Head
Fact checked by Lisa Sullivan, MS
woman filling out forms at doctor's office
Should You Give Your Social Security Number to a Healthcare Provider?
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
Male patient and doctor in discussion in exam room
Using Differential Diagnosis to Confirm Your Illness
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
A doctor looks into a microscope.
How Reliable Are Your Medical Test Results?
Fact checked by James Lacy
Munching on some healthy snacks while web browsing
Using HON to Find Credible Internet Health Information
Fact checked by Dale Brauner
Woman reviewing X-Rays with doctor
How Common Is Misdiagnosis or Missed Diagnosis?
Fact checked by James Lacy
Group of doctors in a hallway, out of focus
Are You Seeing the Right Kind of Specialist?
Medically reviewed by Robert D. Sadaty, MD
A doctor and a patient
What to Do When You Can't Get a Diagnosis
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
Lab tech looking at sample and recording findings
Understanding Your Medical Test Results
Medically reviewed by Rochelle Collins, DO
Woman with her arm around a family member
How to Deal With Common Feelings You May Have Waiting for a Diagnosis
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
A patient meets with a doctor.
What Does Asymptomatic Mean?
Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD
Family preparing food in the kitchen
Food Safety and How to Prevent Food Poisoning
Medically reviewed by Jason DelCollo, DO
caregivers families aging parent
How Pharmacists Can Help Caregivers
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
seniors pharmacy benefits pharmacist consultation
Pharmacy Benefits for Seniors: Advantages to Benefit From
Fact checked by James Lacy
pharmacist pharmacy consultation
Little-Known Benefits of Working With Your Pharmacist
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
Pharmacist Measuring Mature Man's Blood Pressure
How Your Pharmacist Can Help You With Your Chronic Condition
Fact checked by James Lacy
Group of college students taking exam.
Why Minority Communities Are at Increased Risk of Health Problems
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
Yellow and white pills
What Happens When You Don't Take Medicine as Prescribed?
Medically reviewed by Keri Peterson, MD
A man sitting and waiting in his hospital bed
Examining the Weekend Effect and Its Relationship to Hospitals
Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO
Doctor discussing prescription drugs with patient
6 Questions to Ask Before Taking a Prescription
Medically reviewed by Violetta Shamilova, PharmD
drawing up medication in a syringe
Just Culture in Healthcare
Fact checked by Sheeren Jegtvig
Health professionals rushing patient to ER.
More Deaths Than You Might Think Are Caused by Medical Error
Medically reviewed by Rochelle Collins, DO
drug manufacturing
What Is an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient in Medication?
Medically reviewed by Violetta Shamilova, PharmD
Close up of man holding a glass of water and medication in his hand
How to Take Oral Medications Properly
Medically reviewed by Jenny Sweigard, MD
Little boy getting a cast on his leg
Curative Care Aims to Improve or Eliminate Symptoms
Medically reviewed by Cristian Zanartu, MD
Doctor checking teenage patients blood pressure with cuff in examination room
What to Do If You Think Your Doctor Ordered Unnecessary Medical Tests
Fact checked by Dale Brauner
Warfarin pills laying on a sheet of paper
Quick Guide to Warfarin Dosing
Medically reviewed by Mary Choy, PharmD
Man with little hair
Unexpected Beneficial Side Effects of Common Drugs
Medically reviewed by Cristian Zanartu, MD
Pharmacist talking to customer
Deciphering Dosage Timing With 4-Times-A-Day or Every 6 Hours
Medically reviewed by Violetta Shamilova, PharmD
A veterinarian checking the heartbeat of border collie
Can Pet Medications Be Used By Humans?
Fact checked by Ashley Hall
Senior Woman Holding Daily Pill Container
Are Pillboxes for Multiple Medications Safe?
Fact checked by Sheeren Jegtvig
prescription being handed to a patient
How to Read Your Physician's Prescription
Fact checked by Elaine Hinzey, RD
A pile of pills
Drug Classes: Making Sense of What Medication Classifications Mean
Fact checked by Elaine Hinzey, RD