Ask Me 3 - National Patient Safety Foundation

Good Questions for Patients' Good Health

Because clear communication is the foundation for patients to be able to understand and act on health information, the Partnership has launched its first solution-based initiative from its action agenda, titled Ask Me 3.

Asking 3 is a quick, effective tool designed to improve health communication between patients and providers.

Through patient and provider education materials developed by leading health literacy experts Ask Me 3 promotes three simple but essential questions that patients should ask their providers in every health care interaction. Providers should always encourage their patients to understand the answers to:

What is my main problem?
What do I need to do?
Why is it important for me to do this?

Your patients can be directed to AskMe3.org for information on the program.

Myth: My patients are generally well-read and college-educated. They understand the information I give to them.

Reality: The average American reads at the 8th-9th grade level; however, health information is usually written at a higher reading level.

Most patients - regardless of their reading or language skills - prefer medical information that is simple and easy to understand.

Additional factors that may hinder understanding include:
- Intimidation, fear, vulnerability
- Shock upon hearing a diagnosis
- Extenuating stress within the patient's family
- Multiple health conditions to understand and treat