American College of Physicians offers patient-tested resources to increase understanding of common health conditions

Topics include asthma, COPD, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, Lyme disease, migraine, osteoporosis, pneumonia, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, and more

Philadelphia, October 19, 2015 -- Patient FACTS, a patient-tested educational series designed to help patients and their caregivers increase their understanding of common health conditions, is now available from the American College of Physicians (ACP).

"Helping patients and their families understand their health conditions is part of ACP's commitment to patient-centered care and shared decision-making," said Wayne J. Riley, MD, MACP, president, ACP.

These simple, easy-to-read resources are written at a 6th- or 7th-grade reading level and include general information about the condition, its symptoms, how it is diagnosed, and possible treatment options. Patient FACTS also list relevant questions that patients can ask to facilitate communication with their doctor. More than 50 common conditions will be available including asthma, COPD, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, Lyme disease, migraine, osteoporosis, pneumonia, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, and more.

Patient FACTS are available in both English and Spanish at no charge for all physicians and patients in PDF format from www.acponline.org/patient_ed. Select topics are available to order in print by calling ACP Customer Service at 800-523-1546, extension 2600.

About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include 143,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on Twitter and Facebook.