Patient Safety

PATIENT SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY – GET INVOLVED!

Our staff is dedicated to providing you with personalized, professional care in a safe environment.

Although hospitals make every effort to provide safe patient care, medical errors occasionally occur that might have an adverse affect on a patient.

Research has shown that patients can help reduce the occurrence of medical errors by playing an active role in their healthcare.

This is a guide for you and your family to help us ensure your health and safety while in the hospital

*information provided by the Ohio Patient Safety Institute

The single most important way you can help to prevent errors is to be an active member of the health care team.

Taking an active role in your health care is a three-step process:

1. Take part in decisions about your treatment
2. Follow your treatment plan
3. Watch for problems and be involved in solving them

Speak up if you have any questions or concerns.

• You have a right to question anyone who is involved with your care.
• You may want to write down questions to ask for the next time the doctor visits.

Ask what doctor is in charge of your care while you are in the hospital.

You may have several doctors, including our physician hospitalists, handling different aspects of your care. Many family doctors now automatically refer their patients to the hospitalist team when their patients require hospital care. One doctor should be coordinating or in charge of your care.

Identify yourself.

• You will see many different people. You should identify yourself and why you are there.
• Wear your name band at all times.
• Know what procedures you are to have and make sure healthcare workers tell you what they plan to do before consenting to a procedure.

Consider asking all healthcare workers who have direct contact with you if they washed their hands.

Hand-washing is an important way to prevent the spread of infection in hospitals.

Describe your symptoms and/or pain clearly.

When you are admitted to the hospital, bring a list of all the medications you are taking.

• Or bring your medications to the hospital in their original containers.
• Ask a family member to bring in a list or your medications if you left them at home.
• Include all over-the-counter medications, home remedies, herbal medications including tea, vitamins and weight gain or loss products such as shakes, pills or bars. Sometimes they can be dangerous when you take them with other medications.
• Let the doctor and nurse know of any allergies and type of reaction or side effects you have.

Understand your medication.

• Your medication in the hospital may be different than what you take at home.
• Know what medications you are taking, why you are taking them, what they look like, what time you take them, and potential side effects.
• If they look different, ask why!
• Make sure your armband is checked before any medication is given.

Help prevent falls.

• Call for help to get out of bed or chair especially if you feel dizzy or unsteady on your feet
• Wear non-skid slippers or slipper socks

When you are discharged home, ask your doctor to explain your plan of care for you to follow at home.

Make sure you understand your medications and what activity and eating plan you are to follow.

Share any special needs.

If you need assistance arranging special care or equipment, let your doctor, nurse or social worker know.

Getting involved pays off!

• Taking an active role in your care has many advantages.
• Rest assured that our primary goal and commitment is to provide high level of quality care to help you achieve your best possible health.
• Your doctor, nurse and other health care providers welcome your involvement.