National Patient Recognition Week
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Medical Errors



Web Sites for More County Information...

http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/

http://www.rwjf.org/publichealth/product.jsp?id=+55508


http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-02-17-countyhealth17_ST_N.htm


Reducing Medical Errors...
To take charge of your health care and lessen the chances of medical errors happening, simply stick to the following guidelines:

Personally 

  • Become an active and assertive member of your health care team.
  • Do not be intimidated by your doctor and other healthcare professionals, it is your life, not theirs.
  • Keep a diary of what is said and done, by whom, on what date, where and under what circumstances.
  • Take part in every decision regarding your health care and medical treatment.
  • Speak up when you have a question or concern, leave nothing to chance.
  • Learn as much as you can about your medical condition and available treatment options and not just from your physician but other reliable sources as well, such as books, support and watch groups and the Internet.
  • Remember there is such a thing as a dumb question and that is the question you do not ask!
  • If you will feel more comfortable, ask a family member or friend to be present and function as your advocate, looking out for your well being and when necessary, speaking up for you when you cannot.

Medicines and Prescriptions

  • Make sure your doctors and health care providers know every medication and health enhancers you are taking, including prescriptions, over the counter medicines, dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbs.
  • Keep an updated written record of all your prescriptions, over the counter medicines, dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbs
  • Review the list at least twice a year with your doctor. 
  • Make sure your doctor knows about any allergies and adverse reactions you (or immediate family members) have had to certain medicines. 
  • When your doctor writes a prescription, make sure you can read it, if you cannot read it, ask your doctor to rewrite the prescription clearly.
    • Illegible handwriting is a leading contributor to medical errors. 
  • Ask that information about your medications be given in plain English and using terms that you understand both when the medication is prescribed by your doctor and again when you receive them. Ask:
    • What is the name of this medicine?
    • What is this medicine for?
    • What side effects are most likely to occur?
    • What should be done if a side effect occurs?
    • Is this medicine safe to take with the other medication and dietary supplements I am currently taking?
    • What food, drink and activities should be avoided while taking this medicine? 
  • When you pick up prescriptions at the pharmacy, ask:
    • Is this the exact medicine that my doctor prescribed?
    • Have you substituted a generic brand drug for the prescribed medication?
    • Does my doctor know you are substituting a generic drug for the one he (she) prescribed? 
  • To be double safe, ask the pharmacist the same questions that you asked your doctor.
    • What is the name of this medicine?
    • What is this medicine for?What side effects are most likely?
    • What should be done if a side effect occurs?
    • Is this medicine safe to take with the other medication and dietary supplements I am currently taking?
    • What food, drink, or activities should be avoided while taking this medicine? 
  • Make sure you have written information about adverse side effects your medication may cause and the symptoms you may experience. 
  • Before leaving with your medication, have the pharmacist contact your doctor about any discrepancies or concerns you have between what your doctor said and the pharmacist says. 
  • Have the pharmacist explain the directions for taking the medication.
  • Write the directions down or have them written down for you if you have difficulty reading the label. 
  • Make sure you understand the printed directions on the medicine label and that they match what your doctor and the pharmacist told you to do. 
  • If relevant, ask your pharmacist for the best device to measure your liquid medicine. 
  • Ask the pharmacist to show you how to use the liquid measuring device correctly.

Hospitals

  • Not all hospitals are created equal and perform to the highest level of care, so, choose a hospital at which many patients have successfully undergone the procedure or surgery you need or are considering. Experience is important to your well being.
  • Checkout the hospital’s security, especially access to patient’s rooms and the maternity area.
  • Ask your doctor specifically, who is in charge and overseeing your care while you are in the hospital.
  • Ask why a test and examination is being done and how it can help you.
  • Ask about the test and examination results for any test and examination given to you.
  • Make sure everyone who is treating you fully understands your medical condition and medical history; do not leave the exchange of important information to chance.
  • Make sure everyone who comes in direct contact with you, including doctors, nurses, technicians, technologists and support staff have washed their hands.
  • Ask them outright; have you washed your hands before touching my things and me?
    • Infections kill, so ensure hospital personnel wash up.
    • Even visitors can spread infections and diseases
  • During the hospital discharge procedure, ask your doctor to explain the treatment plan he (she) wants you to use at home.
  • If you would feel more comfortable, have your doctor provide your home treatment plan in writing.
  • Ask your doctor when you can return to normal activities and if relevant, return to work.

Surgery 

  • Always get a second and better yet a third opinion when surgery is involved, especially high-risk surgery.
  • Any time surgery is called for, ask if any alternatives to surgery exist.
  • Never take surgery lightly as any invasive procedures can be very traumatic under the best of circumstances.
  • If you are having surgery, make sure that you, your doctor, and the surgeon all clearly understand and agree on exactly what procedure will be done and on what part of the body.
    • Have the part or area marked
  • Ask both your doctor and the surgeon what precautions are being taken to ensure right-site surgery.
  • If you are having surgery, make sure that you, your doctor and the surgeon all clearly understand and agree on exactly who will be in the operating room, for what purpose and are they qualified to participate in the procedure.
  • On occasion, a salesperson has been known to participate in a procedure with disastrous results for the patient.
  • Be on your guard that others are on their guard.
  • Chose a surgeon that has extensive successful experience with the surgical procedure you need.
  • Consider using a board-certified surgeon, she (he) is a surgeon who was committed to studying further in their specialty and being tested by his or her peers and their professional association for competency.
  • Remember, operating room nurses tend to know the best doctors, ask and they will share that knowledge with you.



Sad as it is to say, Medical Errors are one of the nation's leading causes of death and injury and more important, medical errors can happen anywhere, in your physician's office, in the hospitals, at a clinic, outpatient diagnostic center, and surgical suites, nursing homes, assisted living facility, and even at home.

Medical errors often involve one or more of the following elements: doctors, pharmaceuticals, surgery, diagnosis, equipment, lab reports, and their interpretation, prescriptions, medication compliance, and even the patient and their family members.

Uninvolved and uninformed patients are less likely to accept their doctor's choice of treatment and less likely to do what they need to do to make the treatment work.  
 

How can you, the patient, minimize medical errors? Each of use can make a major contribution to reducing medical errors by get and staying involved in our own healthcare. After all, no person cares more about your health and well being then you do, right? In the event, you are the patient's legal guardian or overseeing the patient's care, you need to be involved just as well.



Think Safety

Stay Alert
Stay Safe
Stay Alive

Knowledge is power and some day your life may depend on what you know and do not know about your:
  • Health
  • Medical condition
  • Prescribed treatment
  • Alternative treatments
  • Medications
  • Doctors (especially yours)
  • Hospitals
  • Surgeries
  • Health care
  • Medical intervention in general.

The following information is a starting point to help increase your knowledge of the healthcare system and your choices.
 

Suggested Reading: 


Take This Book to The Hospital With You, A Consumers Guide to Surveying Your Hospital Stay, Charles Inlander & Ed Weiner, People’s Medical Society

Handbook of Medical Treatment (latest edition), William Skach, MD, Charles Daley, MD & Christopher Forsmark, MD, Jones Medical Publications

A Doctor’s Guide to the Best Medical Care, Michael Oppenheim, MD, Rodale Press

Complete Guide to Medical Tests, H. Winter Griffith, MD, Fisher Books

The Best Medicine, Robert Arnot, MD, Addison-Wesley Publications

House Calls, Patch Adams, Robert D. Reed Publishers


Websites:

www.citizen.com
www.guideline.gov
www.healthgrades.org
www.healthfinder.gov 

Solid References:

  • Stedman’s Medical Dictionary
  • The Merck Manual
  • The Physician’s Desk Reference 

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