47 Secrets Hospitals Don’t Want to Tell You (But Every Patient Should Know)

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No one looks forward to a health crisis, but our insights and tips will help you get better medical care, cut hospital bill costs, and get out of the hospital alive.

Paper Artwork by Kyle Bean, Photograph by Mitch Payne for Reader’s Digest

Pick a teaching hospital

“For complex surgical procedures, you’re generally better off at teaching hospitals, which usually stay at the forefront of health research. Medical students and residents ask questions, providing more eyes and ears to pay attention and prevent errors. Teaching hospitals have lower complication rates and better outcomes.” —Evan Levine, MD, cardiologist with ProHealth Physicians Cardiology in Danbury, CT.  Check to see if you know the difference between an MD and a DO.