10 Tips for Patient Safety

Background/Overview

If you are headinig in to the hospital for tests or surgery, it is important to take some precautions for your patient safety. Here are 10 things you can do to ensure your medical care is problem-free.

Method or Steps

• Participate in your medical care and all the decisions around your treatment:

Keep track of your medical condition. Ask for written information on the condition and expected treatment. If you have questions for your doctor, write them down and ask them in person. If this is not possible, fax the questions and request immediate follow up. Make sure you understand all the information you get. And feel comfortable to ask questions.

• Check to see if the Hospital or Doctor uses Electronic Prescribing software.

This is advanced technology that safely transmits your prescriptions electronically. The software also allows for an Electronic Health Record (EHR) to keep track of any interacting drugs.

• Have a medical "advocate".

It helps to have a friend or family member advocate for your needs if you are unable to care for yourself (due to condition, tests or medications). This person should be empowered to speak for you if need be. They should come to your appointments and be familiar with your doctors and your condition.

• Read all medical forms CAREFULLY.

Ask your medical provider if you have any questions or concerns about the forms you are signing. Make sure you are comfortable with the answers to your questions before signing any forms.

• Make sure all health care providers check your ID.

You are identified by the name on your hospital bracelet. This also has your date of birth and your medical record. Make sure all information is correct. Every provider should check your ID band before giving medications, drawing blood or getting additional tests or procedures done. If they do not look at your ID, inquire what is happening and if they are certain these procedures are for you.

• Check procedure site efore any test or surgery.

Ask your doctor and medical staff to review the area where they plan to operate. Make sure you are aware of incision/surgical options and that you are in agreement with decision.

• Become familar with medication safety. You can do this by:
  • Bring a list of all meds you are taking to your doctor appointments and to the hospital. Include everything- from vitamins and supplements, prescription drugs to over the counter meds.
  • Understand your medication. When your doctor writes a prescription, understand what it is for and how you are supposed to take it. It is often helpful to ask your pharmacist about your medication and ask for any contraindications with other medications you might be taking.
  • Know your medications. Try to recognize them by color, size, milligram level, etc. If the medications you are getting in the hospital look different, ask why.
  • Tell your doctors or nurses about any allergies you have or have had to medications. Similarly, if you feel itchy, dizzy or short of breath after taking any medication, alert the medical staff right away.
• Move safely in your hospital room.
  • Know where the emergency light is located.
  • Make sure you can reach the call light easily from your bed. Remember to turn on the call light before you try to get out of bed. Do not get out of bed without help if you feel weak or dizzy. It helps to sit on the end of your bed for a few minutes before getting up.
  • Wear slippers or shoes (make sure the slippers have some tread on the bottom.)
  • Make sure the path to the bathroom is clear.
• Pain management.

If you are on any kind of pain killer, learn how to use the patient controlled analgesia pump. This allows you to self-dose with pain killers intra-venously when your pain levels are high. This self-doing PCA should not be used by anyone other than the patient. Make sure the nurse or visitors are NOT pushing your PCA button.

• Stay clean. Hospitals can have many germs, make sure to wash your hands often or use the anti-bacterial solution.

References

California Pacific Medical Center

More Information

• The Joint Commission- Speak up section; [1]
• The National Patient Safety Foundation [2]