A new nationwide survey has found two significant gaps between patients’ expectations and their experiences.

People reported that they are told about their medical options far less often than they want, and that their medical care appears to be poorly coordinated.

The survey, conducted for the Institute of Medicine, was described in an opinion piece published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. One of the authors is Dr. John Santa, head of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center.

The findings expose “an enormous missed opportunity,” the authors say. Patients “are most satisfied when they are well informed — and … this kind of engagement can lead to better health outcomes and lower costs…”