Why and How to Use the PAC-CARD

The questions on this card are a guide.The aim of the card is TO HELP the patient feel the right to ask useful questions to any/every medical practitioner in a hospital or other healthcare setting, during all meetings, appointments or interactions. It is a repeatable checklist of points to remember.

The questions on the card are intended to be asked, by the patient, in such a way that the medical practitioner can either answer them, inform the patient where they may be able to find an answer or simply acknowledge they cannot provide the answer.

IT IS A FORM / STRUCTURE TO ENCOURAGE OPEN CLEAR COMMUNICATON.

You do not have to use all of the points on the PAC-CARD during every interaction. They are there to remind and help you to:

• ask useful, concise questions.
• listen, respond and think, clearly.
• be brave when at the same time you may be feeling frightened and even helpless.
• see the doctor / health worker as a human being.
• establish yourself as an individual.
• keep on, finding out who knows what.
• navigate a health system which – as in any organization run by people – will make mistakes.