You may not be aware of this, but entering the hospital can be one of the most dangerous things you do. Although obtaining accurate statistics for a preventable medical error is difficult, a study by the Institute of Medicine in 2000 showed that it ranged from 44,000 to 98,000 American deaths each year. Their estimate of the number of excess injuries caused by medical error is more than a million people. These numbers are staggering and little known to the general public.
Although hospitals have to work with their goal to reduce these numbers, you, because the patient can play a role in your own safety. It has been shown that patients who are more involved in health care and openly communicate with their doctors have better results. Here are some of the things you can do to provide the best access for you and your loved ones:
1. Examine the quality of your hospital. Hospital Compare, provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services, allows you to search for hospitals in your area and receive information, including readmission rates, complications, and death compared to national tariffs. If you have problems with what you find, discuss them with your doctor.
2 Ask your doctor about your experience. Statistics show that the more the doctor performed the procedure, the better the result. Make sure you are dealing with someone who knows what they are doing. Just because the procedure is common does not mean that your doctor has experience with it, and vice versa. Make sure your doctor is certified in their specialty.
3 "Brown bag" is. Bring with you all your current medicines and their bottles. Relying on memory when you are sick and clumsy is not a good idea. Thus, all relevant information will be easily accessible to your health care providers.
4. Ask someone with you. Even if you don't need help right now, you can later. They can also work as a second set of eyes and ears. Ask them to take notes on the doctors and nurses. instructions and follow any deviations from the procedure. By keeping alert, even when you cannot, your friend can help prevent mistakes and wrong attitudes at your expense.
5. Do not get out of bed if you are completely unstable. Unnecessary fall injuries can be significantly reduced if you just ask for help. If you are not sure that you need help, ask for it just in case.
6 Bring hand sanitizer. Keep him by the bed and offer it to visitors and employees. You may want to regularly wipe some surfaces exposed to bacteria, such as door handles and countertops. This will reduce the risk of infection. With all the stress on your immune system, you may already be susceptible to infection, while other patients in the hospital spread nasty germs. Keep it clean.
7 Mark the correct part of the operation with a pen. Although it is rare, surgeons sometimes act on the wrong part of the body from time to time. They may ask you to mark the right place, but even if they do not, do it anyway. Why risk having the wrong part of your body open?
8. Double verification of drug information. Medication errors are the most common type of medical error. Make sure your doctor says that he prescribes a written prescription, and then make sure that he is in line with what you are absolutely administering. Whether you get medicine from a pharmacy or is it given to you by a nurse, double check that it is the correct type and dosage.
9. Be persistent. Talk about any pain or something unusual, even if you think it is probably nothing. Complications after surgery may be missed by health care professionals if patients remain calm about the symptoms. If the pain persists, speak again. They cannot know how you feel unless you tell them!
10. ... But be nice. Doctors and nurses can help. They want you to get the best care. Experience shows that a kind word and a smile can attract the attention of an overloaded nurse to a better complaint. Express your appreciation for everything they do!
