Katrina
10-10-2005, 04:13 PM
What Can You Do? Be Involved in Your Health Care
1. The single most important way you can help to prevent errors is to be an
active member of your health care team.
That means taking part in every decision about your health care. Research
shows that patients who are more involved with their care tend to get better
results. Some specific tips, based on the latest scientific evidence about
what works best, follow.
Medicines
2. Make sure that all of your doctors know about everything you are taking.
This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and dietary
supplements such as vitamins and herbs.
At least once a year, bring all of your medicines and supplements with you to
your doctor. "Brown bagging" your medicines can help you and your doctor talk
about them and find out if there are any problems. It can also help your
doctor keep your records up to date, which can help you get better quality
care.
3. Make sure your doctor knows about any allergies and adverse reactions
you have had to medicines.
This can help you avoid getting a medicine that can harm you.
4. When your doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it.
If you can't read your doctor's handwriting, your pharmacist might not be
able to either.
5. Ask for information about your medicines in terms you can
understand—both when your medicines are prescribed and when you receive them.
What is the medicine for?
How am I supposed to take it, and for how long?
What side effects are likely? What do I do if they occur?
Is this medicine safe to take with other medicines or dietary supplements I
am taking?
What food, drink, or activities should I avoid while taking this medicine?
6. When you pick up your medicine from the pharmacy, ask: Is this the
medicine that my doctor prescribed?
A study by the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences
found that 88 percent of medicine errors involved the wrong drug or the wrong
dose.
7. If you have any questions about the directions on your medicine labels,
ask.
Medicine labels can be hard to understand. For example, ask if "four doses
daily" means taking a dose every 6 hours around the clock or just during
regular waking hours.
8. Ask your pharmacist for the best device to measure your liquid medicine.
Also, ask questions if you're not sure how to use it.
Research shows that many people do not understand the right way to measure
liquid medicines. For example, many use household teaspoons, which often do
not hold a true teaspoon of liquid. Special devices, like marked syringes,
help people to measure the right dose. Being told how to use the devices
helps even more.
9. Ask for written information about the side effects your medicine could
cause.
If you know what might happen, you will be better prepared if it does—or, if
something unexpected happens instead. That way, you can report the problem
right away and get help before it gets worse. A study found that written
information about medicines can help patients recognize problem side effects
and then give that information to their doctor or pharmacist.
Hospital Stays
10. If you have a choice, choose a hospital at which many patients have the
procedure or surgery you need.
Research shows that patients tend to have better results when they are
treated in hospitals that have a great deal of experience with their
condition.
11. If you are in a hospital, consider asking all health care workers who
have direct contact with you whether they have washed their hands.
Handwashing is an important way to prevent the spread of infections in
hospitals. Yet, it is not done regularly or thoroughly enough. A recent study
found that when patients checked whether health care workers washed their
hands, the workers washed their hands more often and used more soap.
12. When you are being discharged from the hospital, ask your doctor to
explain the treatment plan you will use at home.
This includes learning about your medicines and finding out when you can get
back to your regular activities. Research shows that at discharge time,
doctors think their patients understand more than they really do about what
they should or should not do when they return home.
Surgery
13. If you are having surgery, make sure that you, your doctor, and your
surgeon all agree and are clear on exactly what will be done.
Doing surgery at the wrong site (for example, operating on the left knee
instead of the right) is rare. But even once is too often. The good news is
that wrong-site surgery is 100 percent preventable. The American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons urges its members to sign their initials directly on the
site to be operated on before the surgery.
Other Steps You Can Take
14. Speak up if you have questions or concerns.
You have a right to question anyone who is involved with your care.
15. Make sure that someone, such as your personal doctor, is in charge of
your care.
This is especially important if you have many health problems or are in a
hospital.
16. Make sure that all health professionals involved in your care have
important health information about you.
Do not assume that everyone knows everything they need to.
17. Ask a family member or friend to be there with you and to be your
advocate (someone who can help get things done and speak up for you if you
can't).
Even if you think you don't need help now, you might need it later.
18. Know that "more" is not always better.
It is a good idea to find out why a test or treatment is needed and how it
can help you. You could be better off without it.
19. If you have a test, don't assume that no news is good news.
Ask about the results.
1. The single most important way you can help to prevent errors is to be an
active member of your health care team.
That means taking part in every decision about your health care. Research
shows that patients who are more involved with their care tend to get better
results. Some specific tips, based on the latest scientific evidence about
what works best, follow.
Medicines
2. Make sure that all of your doctors know about everything you are taking.
This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and dietary
supplements such as vitamins and herbs.
At least once a year, bring all of your medicines and supplements with you to
your doctor. "Brown bagging" your medicines can help you and your doctor talk
about them and find out if there are any problems. It can also help your
doctor keep your records up to date, which can help you get better quality
care.
3. Make sure your doctor knows about any allergies and adverse reactions
you have had to medicines.
This can help you avoid getting a medicine that can harm you.
4. When your doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it.
If you can't read your doctor's handwriting, your pharmacist might not be
able to either.
5. Ask for information about your medicines in terms you can
understand—both when your medicines are prescribed and when you receive them.
What is the medicine for?
How am I supposed to take it, and for how long?
What side effects are likely? What do I do if they occur?
Is this medicine safe to take with other medicines or dietary supplements I
am taking?
What food, drink, or activities should I avoid while taking this medicine?
6. When you pick up your medicine from the pharmacy, ask: Is this the
medicine that my doctor prescribed?
A study by the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences
found that 88 percent of medicine errors involved the wrong drug or the wrong
dose.
7. If you have any questions about the directions on your medicine labels,
ask.
Medicine labels can be hard to understand. For example, ask if "four doses
daily" means taking a dose every 6 hours around the clock or just during
regular waking hours.
8. Ask your pharmacist for the best device to measure your liquid medicine.
Also, ask questions if you're not sure how to use it.
Research shows that many people do not understand the right way to measure
liquid medicines. For example, many use household teaspoons, which often do
not hold a true teaspoon of liquid. Special devices, like marked syringes,
help people to measure the right dose. Being told how to use the devices
helps even more.
9. Ask for written information about the side effects your medicine could
cause.
If you know what might happen, you will be better prepared if it does—or, if
something unexpected happens instead. That way, you can report the problem
right away and get help before it gets worse. A study found that written
information about medicines can help patients recognize problem side effects
and then give that information to their doctor or pharmacist.
Hospital Stays
10. If you have a choice, choose a hospital at which many patients have the
procedure or surgery you need.
Research shows that patients tend to have better results when they are
treated in hospitals that have a great deal of experience with their
condition.
11. If you are in a hospital, consider asking all health care workers who
have direct contact with you whether they have washed their hands.
Handwashing is an important way to prevent the spread of infections in
hospitals. Yet, it is not done regularly or thoroughly enough. A recent study
found that when patients checked whether health care workers washed their
hands, the workers washed their hands more often and used more soap.
12. When you are being discharged from the hospital, ask your doctor to
explain the treatment plan you will use at home.
This includes learning about your medicines and finding out when you can get
back to your regular activities. Research shows that at discharge time,
doctors think their patients understand more than they really do about what
they should or should not do when they return home.
Surgery
13. If you are having surgery, make sure that you, your doctor, and your
surgeon all agree and are clear on exactly what will be done.
Doing surgery at the wrong site (for example, operating on the left knee
instead of the right) is rare. But even once is too often. The good news is
that wrong-site surgery is 100 percent preventable. The American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons urges its members to sign their initials directly on the
site to be operated on before the surgery.
Other Steps You Can Take
14. Speak up if you have questions or concerns.
You have a right to question anyone who is involved with your care.
15. Make sure that someone, such as your personal doctor, is in charge of
your care.
This is especially important if you have many health problems or are in a
hospital.
16. Make sure that all health professionals involved in your care have
important health information about you.
Do not assume that everyone knows everything they need to.
17. Ask a family member or friend to be there with you and to be your
advocate (someone who can help get things done and speak up for you if you
can't).
Even if you think you don't need help now, you might need it later.
18. Know that "more" is not always better.
It is a good idea to find out why a test or treatment is needed and how it
can help you. You could be better off without it.
19. If you have a test, don't assume that no news is good news.
Ask about the results.