A new resource: empowered patients.

Patients who have access to healthcare information on the Internet or elsewhere or who have learned to demand interaction with their providers can be intimidating--and also one of a provider's biggest assets. When providers take the time to talk with patients about their conditions, to involve them in decisionmaking and to give them access to information, patients can become active participants in the care process. That shift in roles can reduce inappropriate utilization, cut costs and increase satisfaction.