Resources from Consumer Reports^® to Engage and Empower Employees to Make Better Health Care Decisions

Pain medication and opioids

• Pain Management Story
• Avoid Opioids for Most Long-Term Pain
• Prescription Pain Killers: 5 Surprising Facts

Better Health Care: Changes to Learn about Now

• Better Health Care: Changes to Learn about Now This report from Consumer Reports describes three broad initiatives aimed at improving quality of care, empowering consumers, and limiting spending growth.

What Hospitals Don't Want You to Know about C-sections

• What Hospitals Don't Want You to Know about C-sections This report from Consumer Reports helps patients find the right hospital for labor and delivery by providing the C-section rates for low-risk deliveries in 22 states.

The doctor will email you now

• The doctor will email you now This report from Consumer Reports focuses on patient portals and the reasons why consumers should give them a try.

Dr. Who?

• Dr. Who? This report from Consumer Reports focuses on nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other "advanced practice providers" who deliver care to patients.

A doctor's office that's all about you

• A doctor's office that's all about you This report from Consumer Reports focuses on patient-centered medical homes, which seek to provide comprehensive, continuous, well-coordinated medical care to patients.

What to Reject When You're Expecting

• What to Reject When You're Expecting This report from Consumer Reports focuses on 10 procedures that are commonly overused during pregnancy.

The real cost of care: How to save on medical bills, without compromising quality

• The real cost of care: How to save on medical bills, without compromising quality This report from Consumer Reports focuses on the lack of transparency in the cost of health care and how consumers can avoid unwelcome price surprises.

What doctors wish their patients knew

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  What doctors wish their patients knew — A report that provides a guidance for consumers on how to develop a more productive relationship with their primary care physician.
• A letter from Helen Darling about What doctors wish their patients knew — Discusses the importance of developing a productive relationship with a primary care physician and provides strategies for disseminating the What doctors wish their patients knew from Consumer Reports to employees and dependents.
• A template letter about What doctors wish their patients knew — Provides employers with sample language they can use when disseminating What doctors wish their patients knew to employees.

Dangerous supplements

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  Dangerous supplements — A report that provides information about supplements that pose possible dangers.
• A letter from Helen Darling about Dangerous supplements — Discusses the importance of educating employees about dietary supplements and strategies for disseminating Dangerous supplements to employees and dependents.
• A template letter about Dangerous supplements — Provides employers with a sample letter for use when disseminating Dangerous supplements to employees.

The business of healing hearts

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  The business of healing hearts — A report that provides information on heart health and provides a list of the tests patients do and don't need.
• A letter from Helen Darling about The business of healing hearts — Discusses the importance of educating employees about overuse and strategies for disseminating The business of healing hearts to employees and dependents.
• A template letter about The business of healing hearts — Provides employers with a sample letter for use when disseminating The business of healing hearts to employees.

Deadly infections

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  Deadly infections — An investigative report on hospital infections that includes top and bottom performing hospitals by state.
• A Letter from Helen Darling about Deadly infections — Discusses the importance of engaging employees in patient safety and strategies for disseminating Deadly infections to employees and dependents.
• A template letter about Deadly infections — Provides employers with a sample letter for use when disseminating Deadly infections to employees.