things you should know about patient safety

Your safety is important to every member of your health care team. Our staff and doctors play a vital role in your safety. We want to offer some advice on how you can help us take good and safe care of you.

Please speak up or tell us if you have questions or concerns about your care or any special needs. Don’t be embarrassed or afraid to tell your nurse or your doctor if you don’t understand what they talk to you about.

Medications

Speak up if you think you might be about to receive the wrong medication. • Make sure you can read any prescription written by your doctor. If you can’t read what is written, the pharmacist may not be able to either. • Keep a list of all medications you are taking, including over the counter medications. Make sure your doctor receives a copy of this list. • Ask about any medication you are given – why is it being prescribed? What are the side effects? What is the brand name or generic name? Know what time of day you are supposed to receive a medication. • If this doesn’t happen, tell your doctor or nurse.

Patient Advocates

You might ask a trusted friend or family member to be your advocate to help you during your hospital stay. Make sure you have advised your doctor or your hospital staff that you have an advocate who will act for you if you are unable to. • Instruct your advocate to ask questions or receive information for you. Sometimes under stress or during periods of worry, you might not think to ask a question that could be important. • Your advocate can help you remember information or answers to your questions and can help speak up for you if you can not. • You and your advocate might review consents for treatment before signing to help make sure you understand what you are agreeing to. • Your advocate should understand the type of care you will need when you go home from the hospital. Your advocate should know what to look for if your condition should worsen and whom to call for help.

Ask questions!

Ask about any test or procedure that may be ordered for you during your stay. Your doctor or nurse can tell you about the test or procedure. • If you want to get out of bed, please ask for help. • Ask about medications or intravenous (IV) fluids being provided to you. If you are not well enough to do this, ask your family or friend to do this. • Make sure your doctor or nurse checks your identity by checking your wristband and asking your name before giving you any medication or treatment. • Ask about follow-up care before you leave the hospital. Make sure you understand all of the instructions provided to you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and have information repeated to you.

Don’t touch!

During your stay there may be times when special equipment or machines are brought to your room to help in your care and treatment. Please do not touch the controls or settings on this equipment. Please don’t allow your visitors to touch or move IV machines or other equipment used in your care. Ask your nurse or doctor to help you. Call your nurse right away in the event of any alarms or concerns about any medical equipment.