Wood County Hospital

Patient Safety

Everyone has a role in making health care safe: physicians, health care executives, nurses, and technicians. Health care organizations across the country work hard to make health care safety a priority. You, as the patient can also play a vital role in making your care safe by becoming an active, involved, and informed member of your health care team.

Speak Up: Help Prevent Errors in Your Care

Speak up if you have questions or concerns. If you don’t understand, ask again. It’s your body and you have a right to know.

• Your health is too important to worry about being embarrassed if you don’t understand something that your doctor, nurse or other professional tells you.
• Don’t be afraid to ask about safety. For example, if you are having surgery, ask the doctor to mark the area that is to be operated on so there is no confusion in the operating room.
• Don’t be afraid to tell the doctor or nurse if you think you are about to receive the wrong medication.
• Don’t hesitate to tell the health care professional if you think he or she has confused you with another patient.

Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you are getting the correct treatments and medications by the right health care professionals. Don’t assume anything.

• Tell your nurse or doctor if something doesn’t seem right.
• Expect health care workers to introduce themselves when they enter your room and look for their identification badges. For example, a new mother should know the person who is handling her baby. If you are not sure, then ask.
• Notice whether your caregivers wash their hands or use alcohol hand rubs. Hand hygiene is the most important way to prevent the spread of infection. Don’t be afraid to gently remind a doctor, nurse or other caregiver to perform hand hygiene before performing health care tasks.
• Know what time of day you normally receive your medications. If you don’t receive your medicines, inquire about it with the nurse or doctor.
• Make sure your nurse, doctor, or other caregiver confirms your identity by checking your wristband or asking your name before he or she administers any medication or treatment.

Educate yourself about your diagnosis, your medical tests, and your treatment plan.

• Ask your doctor about specialized training and experience that qualifies him or her to treat your illness, and be sure to ask the same questions of those physicians to whom you are referred.
• You can gather information on your condition from your doctor, libraries, the Internet, and support groups.
• Write down important facts your doctor tells you so you can look for additional information about it later. Ask your doctor or health care professional if he or she has any written information you can keep.
• Read all medical forms thoroughly and make sure you understand them before you sign anything. If you don’t understand the forms, ask your doctor, nurse or health care professional to explain them.
• Make sure you are familiar with the operation of any medical equipment that is being used for your health care. For example, if you will be using oxygen at home, do not smoke or allow anyone to smoke near you while oxygen is in use.

Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.

• Your advocate can ask questions that you may not think of while you are under stress.
• Ask this person to stay with you, even overnight, when you are hospitalized. You will be able to rest more comfortably and your advocate can ensure that you get the right medications & treatments.
• Your advocate can also help you remember answers to questions and speak up for you if you cannot.
• Be sure the advocate understands your health care preferences and wishes concerning resuscitation and life support.
• Review consents for treatment with your advocate before you sign them and make sure you both understand the agreement you have signed or will sign.
• Make sure your advocate understands the type of care you will need when you get home. Your advocate should know what to look for if your condition gets worse and who to call for help.

Know what medications you take and why you take them.

• Ask about the purpose of the medication and ask for written information about it, including its brand and generic names. Also inquire about the side effects of the medication.
• If you do not recognize medication, verify that it is for you. Ask about oral medications before swallowing them, and read the contents of bags of intravenous (IV) fluids. If you’re not well enough to do this, ask your advocate.
• If you are given an IV, ask the nurse how long it should take for the liquid to “run out”. Tell the nurse if it doesn’t seem to be dripping properly, either too fast or too slow.
• Whenever you are going to receive a new medicine, tell your doctors and nurses about allergies you have, or negative reactions you have had to medications in the past.
• If you are taking multiple medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to take those medications together. Same recommendation for vitamins, herbal supplements, and over-the-counter drugs.
• Make sure you can read the handwriting on any prescriptions written by your doctor. If you can’t read it, the pharmacist may not be able to either.

Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that has undergone a rigorous, on-site evaluation against established, state-of-the-art quality and safety standards, such as those provided by The Joint Commission.

• Ask about the health care organization’s experiences in treating your type of illness. How frequently do they perform the procedure you need and what specialized care do they provide in helping patients get well?
• If you have more than one hospital or health care facility to choose from, ask your doctor which one offers the best care for your condition.
• Before you leave the hospital or other facility, ask about follow up care and make sure you understand all instructions.

Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.

• You and your doctor should agree on exactly what will be done during each step of your care.
• Know who will be taking care of you, how long the treatment will last, and how you should feel.
• Understand that more tests or medications may not always be better. Ask your doctor what a new test or medication is likely to achieve.
• Keep copies of your medical records from previous hospitalizations and share them with your health care team to give them a comprehensive view of your health history.
• Don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion. If you are unsure, consult with one or two additional specialists. You’ll be able to make more informed decisions when you have more information about the options available.
• Speak with others who have undergone the same procedures you are considering. They can tell you what to expect and what worked best during their recovery.