There is a lot that people can do to improve the quality of care they receive. They can make informed choices about their health care and become better partners with their doctors in managing their own health.

At the community level, we can improve the quality of health care by:

• Exploring new ways to improve communications and coordination between hospitals, doctors, nurses, and patients.
• Giving people information that helps them be better partners with their doctors in managing their own health.

There is a lot that people can do to improve the quality of care they receive. They can make informed choices about their health care and become better partners with their doctors in managing their own health.

At the community level, we can improve the quality of health care by:

• Exploring new ways to improve communications and coordination between hospitals, doctors, nurses, and patients.
• Giving people information that helps them be better partners with their doctors in managing their own health.

This guide was designed by patients to address questions about what it's like to live with diabetes. This guide will give you:

1) Places to go to get information about diabetes.

2) Information about the best ways to care for yourself.

3) Guidance on what you should expect from your health care team.

4) Quesitons to ask if you do not receive the care you expect.

5) Information to find out how well doctors in your area are following the diabetes treatment guidelines.

6) A resource to refer back to along the way.

This guide was designed by patients to address questions about what it's like to live with diabetes. This guide will give you:

1) Places to go to get information about diabetes.

2) Information about the best ways to care for yourself.

3) Guidance on what you should expect from your health care team.

4) Quesitons to ask if you do not receive the care you expect.

5) Information to find out how well doctors in your area are following the diabetes treatment guidelines.

6) A resource to refer back to along the way.

CCHN recently hosted a Patient Empowerment Train-the-Trainer for representatives from local organizations. This provided an opportunity for case workers and community educators to gain the necessary skills to engage their clients in being better advocates for their own health care. Christy Woods, from the National Partnership for Women and Families, provided the training in partnership with the P2 Collaborative of WNY through their Aligning Forces for Quality Initiative. Aligning Forces for Quality is Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's effort to lift the overall quality of health care in targeted communities, reduce racial and ethnic disparitieis, and provide models for national reform.

CCHN recently hosted a Patient Empowerment Train-the-Trainer for representatives from local organizations. This provided an opportunity for case workers and community educators to gain the necessary skills to engage their clients in being better advocates for their own health care. Christy Woods, from the National Partnership for Women and Families, provided the training in partnership with the P2 Collaborative of WNY through their Aligning Forces for Quality Initiative. Aligning Forces for Quality is Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's effort to lift the overall quality of health care in targeted communities, reduce racial and ethnic disparitieis, and provide models for national reform.