Patients & Families
What does quality healthcare mean?
It means care that works. Care that is tailored to you and delivered by professionals who respect you, communicate with you and involve you in decisions about your care.
But for many Americans, quality healthcare is not a reality:
- It’s too expensive. In fact, America spends almost twice as much per person as the next leading country. Many citizens don’t have access to it.
- Many are without insurance and can’t afford to pay for it.
- Half of our population doesn’t get the care that is recommended for their age, gender and personal history. Or they receive care they don’t need.
Why should I care?
Even if you believe you are receiving the care you need, poor or uneven quality of healthcare has an impact on everyone. It robs the system of precious resources—actual dollars and services—that could be used to expand coverage and improve results. Researchers estimate that 30 percent of healthcare spending—nearly $700 billion a year—is for services that do not improve people's health.
How does Quest fit in?
Quality Quest for Health of Illinois helps people take charge of their own healthcare. We educate you on care standards based on the most current science, so that you can be an informed healthcare consumer. We provide performance data on how well local practices are stacking up to those standards, so that you are informed about the quality of care your clinic or doctor provides. And we give you access to reliable, unbiased, easy-to-understand information on preventive medicine and wellness.
Together we can improve healthcare
Consumers who make informed choices and are engaged in their own care not only experience better health outcomes, they also help reward doctors, hospitals and health plans that deliver quality care and service.
Take advantage of the information and tools that Quest provides. And encourage your employer, your healthcare provider—even your insurance company—to support the effort by joining Quest.
Focus on wellness
There's also a lot you can do on your own, like watching what you eat, exercising and managing stress. When you concentrate on wellness and improve your overall health, you are more able to successfully handle an illness and less likely to develop a chronic medical condition.
