Be Active, with Dr. Debi Thomas

Introduction

AHRQ's Be Active in Your Health Care PSAs spotlight Dr. Debi Thomas, World Ice Skating Champion, Olympic medalist, and Orthopedic Surgeon, in a number of video and audio public service announcements encouraging consumers to be involved in their own health care.

Background

Debi Thomas's figure skating celebrity combined with her authority as a health care provider proved to be the right combination as a spokesperson who could connect with average consumers. To help get this important message across, Dr. Thomas took to the ice with young figure skaters from the Fort Dupont (DC) Kids on Ice Program and Fairfax (VA) Ice Arena. She provides some simple, everyday ways to stay healthy in these videos, titled Be Active in Your Health Care and Be a Champion for Your Health Care.

In two more PSAs, called Be a Champion for Your Loved Ones and You Might Just Save A Life, Dr. Thomas encourages people to make sure their family members, particularly older adults, get regular checkups with a health care provider. Many diseases can be prevented or controlled when they are diagnosed and treated early. Dr. Thomas suggests that if family members haven't seen a provider lately, they should urge them to make an appointment or make one for them. These PSAs were taped at the Howard University Hospital in DC.

Viewing the Video

You may watch the video PSAs on your computer.

• Be Active in Your Health Care. 30-second video.
• Be a Champion for Your Health Care. 30-second video.
• Be a Champion for Your Loved Ones. 60-second video.
• You Might Just Save A Life. 30-second video.

Listening to the Audio

There are audio versions of these PSAs as well.

• Be An Active Member of Your Health Care Team (Transcript).
• Be a Champion for Your Loved Ones (Transcript).

Additional Resources on Being an Involved Health Care Consumer

Audio

As part of AHRQ's Healthcare 411 audio series, AHRQ Director Dr. Carolyn Clancy has recorded a number of interviews to help consumers understand what they can do to get quality medical care. All programs created for Healthcare 411 (including the Newscasts and Special Reports) are available by going to http://www.healthcare411.ahrq.gov.

• When to Take or Not Take Antibiotics.
• Searching for Reliable Health Information on the Web.
• Preparing for a Medical Test.
• Weighing the Benefits and Risks of Treatment.
• How to be a Family Health Advocate.
• Understanding Patient Safety.
• Next Steps After Diagnosis.
• Getting the Most from a Visit to a Clinician.
• What You Need to Know before Surgery.
• Personal and Electronic Health Records: Part 1.
• Personal and Electronic Health Records: Part 2.
• Understanding Health Care Quality.

Print

AHRQ also has developed print materials that will help patients get safer, higher quality care. Go to Choosing Quality Care.

Questions Are the Answer

AHRQ has created a multimedia public service campaign to help patients ask the right questions to be involved and informed about their own health care. 

The site also includes a Questions Builder tool to help you create a personalized list of questions that you can take with you to your health care professional.