For Patients

What is HEAL?

Your overall experience of healthcare includes much more than just a drug and/or procedure.

The effectiveness of your treatment can depend on a number of other things, such as your relationship with your provider, treatment expectations, and type of outlook.

It is important for both you and your provider to understand how these factors impact your care. To help, we created the Healing Encounters and Attitudes List (HEAL) questionnaires listed below. Your provider may ask you to complete one or more of these six questionnaires during your visit. Each is only a few questions (3-6) long and may be given to you on a computer or in paper format. Although each questionnaire is short, your answers can be a powerful tool in improving your overall care.

 

FAQ

Q: Why do I need to fill this out? Can’t I just talk with my provider?

A: Talking with your provider is essential. These questionnaires will help make your discussions with your provider more efficient and thorough.

Q: When and how often will I be asked these questions?

A: Most providers like to ask these questions before every visit. This helps them see how you are doing over time and if changes in these factors could be impacting the effectiveness of your treatment.  

Q: Some of these questions seem repetitive. Does it need to be this long?

A: The questionnaires were reviewed in a rigorous process to make them as short and easy to read as possible. Although some questions may seem repetitive, your answers help your provider understand your experience more fully.

Q: I feel uncomfortable about answering some of these questions. For example, I don’t want my healthcare provider to know I felt disrespected because it might make our next interaction awkward.

A: If your provider is choosing to ask you to complete a HEAL measure, they want your honest feedback in order to improve your care. It is important you answer as honestly as you can so your receive the best care. 

Q: Some of these questions seem like they don’t apply to me. For example, I am not a spiritual person so I cannot comment on “my faith”?

A:  The questions were made to apply to as many people as possible, but we understand it is impossible to capture every single person’s experience.