Ask Me 3® is an educational program that encourages patients and families to ask three specific questions of their providers to better understand their health conditions and what they need to do to stay healthy.

1. What is my main problem?

2. What do I need to do?

3. Why is it important for me to do this?

Designed by health literacy experts, Ask Me 3 is intended to help patients become more active members of their health care team, and provide a critical platform to improve communications between patients, families, and health care professionals.

Complimentary Materials and Resources Available

IHI/NPSF provides, through a non-exclusive, non-transferable license, certain Ask Me 3 materials and resources for download and distribution free of charge to aid in the promotion of health communication, including health literacy, and increased patient safety.

Individuals wishing to download and distribute Ask Me 3 materials and resources, representing themselves or organizations, must register and agree to the official terms and conditions to obtain access to the materials. Register and download.

The one-folder download includes:

11 x 17 Poster in English
11 x 17 Poster in Spanish

8.5 x 11 two-page Flier in English
8.5 x 11 two-page Flier in Spanish

Words to Watch
Ask Me 3 Newsletter Language

View the Ask Me 3 Health Literacy Educational Module

Learn about the nature of limited health literacy as well as what you and your team can do to help patients increase their understanding of health care information by viewing our 26-minute educational module Promoting Clear Health Communication with Ask Me 3®.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define limited health literacy and identify its prevalence and impact
• Identify potential at-risk populations and red flag behaviors related to limited health literacy
  
• Outline best practices for improving patients’ understanding of health care information
  
• Outline tactics for successfully implementing Ask Me 3 within organizations
  

Individuals wishing to download and view the educational module as well as other Ask Me 3 materials and resources, representing themselves or organizations, must register and agree to the official terms and conditions to obtain access to the materials. Register and download.

Show the Ask Me 3 Video

Help raise awareness and encourage patients to use the Ask Me 3 questions by showing the Ask Me 3 video to your internal patient health television network.

Available in English, with Spanish captioning available, the video shows a patient and his daughter using the Ask Me 3 content in conversation with a health care provider. He asks the three questions to help get the answers needed to better understand his condition and next steps.

For more information and to obtain files, please contact us.

Purchase Other Ask Me 3 Products

Ready-to-use glossy patient brochures, posters, key tags, and other materials are available for purchase through our Online Store. Click here to view inventory and place your order. 

Stand Up for Patient Safety Members

Organizations that are members of the Stand Up for Patient Safety program can receive complimentary, production-ready Ask Me 3 materials and have permission to cobrand them with their organization’s logo. For more information, please contact us.

Trademark

Ask Me 3 is a registered trademark licensed to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Please note that the Ask Me 3 program was previously run by the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF). As of May 1, 2017, NPSF has merged with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).