To Prevent Health Care Errors, Patients are Urged to "SPEAK UP"

The Joint Commission

Everyone has a role in making health care safe. That includes doctors, health care executives, nurses and many health care technicians. And as a patient, you can make your health care safer by being an active, involved and informed member of your health care team.

The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization that is the nation’s predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care, offers tips for patients in their “Speak Up” educational campaign.

“Knowing your rights regarding treatment and care is the foundation for all interactions with your caregivers at health care facilities. Candid conversations between patients and their caregivers will help facilitate the delivery of safe, high quality care and ultimately, enhance recovery,” says Paul Schyve, M.D., senior vice president.

Here are some tips from the Joint Commission:

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

• Your health is very important. Do not worry about being embarrassed if you don’t understand something that your doctor, nurse or other health care professional tells you.
• Don’t be afraid to tell the nurse or the doctor if you think you are about to get the wrong medicine, or if you think he or she has confused you with another patient.

Pay attention to the care you get. Always make sure you’re getting the right treatments and medicines 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. Look for their identification (ID) badges.
• Make sure your nurse or doctor checks your ID. Make sure he or she checks your wristband and asks your name before he or she gives you your medicine or treatment.

Educate yourself about your illness. Learn about the medical tests you get, and your treatment plan.

• Look for information about your condition. Good places to get that information are from your doctor, your library, respected websites and support groups.
• Write down important facts your doctor tells you. Ask your doctor if he or she has any written information you can keep.
• Read all medical forms and make sure you understand them before you sign anything. If you don’t understand, ask your doctor or nurse to explain them.

Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate (advisor or supporter).

• Ask this person to stay with you, even overnight, when you are hospitalized. You will be able to rest better.
• Your advocate can help make sure you get the right medicines and treatments.
• Your advocate can also help remember answers to questions you have asked. He or she can speak up for you when you cannot speak up for yourself.
• 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 is getting worse. He or she should also know who to call for help.

Know what medicines you take and why you take them. Medicine errors are the most common health care mistakes.

• Ask about why you should take the medication. Ask for written information about it, including its brand and generic names. Also ask about the side effects of all medicines.
• Whenever you get a new medicine, tell your doctors and nurses about allergies you have, or negative reactions you have had to other medicines.
• If you are taking a lot of medicines, be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to take those medicines together. Do the same thing with vitamins, herbs and over-the-counter drugs.

Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that has been carefully checked out. For example, The Joint Commission visits hospitals to see if they are meeting The Joint Commission’s quality standards.

• Ask about the health care organization’s experience in taking care of people with your type of illness. How often do they perform the procedure you need? What special care do they provide to help patients get well?

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. Know how long the treatment will last. Know how you should feel.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion. If you are unsure about the best treatment for your illness, talk with one or two additional doctors. The more information you have about all the kinds of treatment available to you, the better you will feel about the decisions made.

To see the entire set of SPEAK UP tips, you can download the brochure from the website of The Joint Commission.

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