Patient Safety Awareness Week March 2-8
MAR 03, 2008Actions to take to help protect yourself:
- Rid your medicine cabinets of old or expired medication
- Bring your medications to your doctor or pharmacist for review
- Obtain copies of all your healthcare records and keep them in a safe place.
- Write down and carry with you all of your prescription and over the counter medications (including doses), as well as any allergies.
- Identify an advocate (either family member or friend) who can accompany you and ask questions on your behalf.
- Talk with your family or other close individuals about what your preferences are for your healthcare, in case you are unable to speak for yourself.
Communicate and partner with your Medical Providers:
- Ask your hospital or healthcare professional about patient safety, and how communication and partnership between you and your providerscan be improved
- Communicate with your Medical Provider about what your healthcare safety concerns are.
- Let your healthcare provider know who they should talk with in the case that you are unable to speak for yourself.