Fact Based List:
AHRQ: 20 Tips for patients to Help Prevent Medical Errors
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 12/20/2010 - 11:16
- The single most important way you can help to prevent errors is to be an active member of your health care team
- 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
- Make sure your doctor knows about any allergies and adverse reactions you have had to medicines
- When your doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it
- Ask for information about your medicines in terms you can understand—both when your medicines are prescribed and when you receive them
- When you pick up your medicine from the pharmacy, ask: Is this the medicine that my doctor prescribed?
- If you have any questions about the directions on your medicine labels, ask.
- Ask your pharmacist for the best device to measure your liquid medicine. Also, ask questions if you're not sure how to use it
- Ask for written information about the side effects your medicine could cause
- If you have a choice, choose a hospital at which many patients have the procedure or surgery you need
- If you are in a hospital, consider asking all health care workers who have direct contact with you whether they have washed their hands
- When you are being discharged from the hospital, ask your doctor to explain the treatment plan you will use at home
- 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
- Speak up if you have questions or concerns
- Make sure that someone, such as your personal doctor, is in charge of your care
- Make sure that all health professionals involved in your care have important health information about you
- 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)
- Know that "more" is not always better
- If you have a test, don't assume that no news is good news
- Learn about your condition and treatments by asking your doctor and nurse and by using other reliable sources
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Patient Fact Sheet
Source URL: http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tips.htm
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