Our Lady of the Angels Patient Rights & Responsibilities

The ‘Speak Up’ Program

Everyone has a role in making healthcare safe just like any healthcare team member. Healthcare organizations across the country are working to make healthcare safety a priority. You, as the patient, can also play a vital role in making your care safe by becoming an active, involved and informed member of your healthcare team.

An Institute of Medicine (IOM) report has identified the occurrence of medical errors as a serious problem in the healthcare system. The IOM recommends, among other things, that a concerted effort be made to improve the public's awareness of the problem.

The "Speak Up" program, sponsored by The Joint Commission, urges patients to get involved in their care. Such efforts to increase consumer awareness and involvement are supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This initiative provides simple advice on how you, as the patient, can make your care a positive experience. After all, research shows that patients who take part in decisions about their healthcare are more likely to have better outcomes.

To help prevent healthcare errors, patients are urged to "Speak Up."

Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you're getting the right treatments and medications by the right healthcare professionals. Don't assume anything.
- Tell your nurse or doctor if something doesn't seem quite right.
- Expect healthcare workers to introduce themselves when they enter your room and look for their identification badges.
- Notice whether your caregivers have washed their hands. Hand washing is the most important way to prevent the spread of infections. Don't be afraid to gently remind a doctor or nurse to do this.
- Know what time of day you normally receive a particular medication. If it doesn't happen, bring this to the attention of your nurse or doctor.
- Make sure your nurse, doctor or any other healthcare team member confirms your identity, by name and date of birth, before he or she administers any medication or treatment.
Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don't understand, ask again. It's your body and you have a right to know
- Your health is too important to worry about being embarrassed if you don't understand something that your doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional tells you.
- Don't be afraid to ask about safety. If you're having surgery, for example, ask the doctor to mark the area that is to be operated upon, so that there's no confusion in the operating room.
- Don't be afraid to tell the nurse or doctor if you think you are about to receive the wrong medication.
- Don't hesitate to tell the healthcare professional if you think he or she has confused you with another patient.
Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing and your treatment plan.
- Ask your doctor about the specialized training and experience that qualifies him or her to treat your illness (and be sure to ask the same questions of those physicians to whom he or she refers you).
- Gather information about your condition. Good sources include your doctor, your library, respected websites and support groups.
- Write down important facts your doctor tells you so you can look for additional information later. And ask your doctor if he or she has any written information you can keep.
- Thoroughly 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.
- Make sure you are familiar with the operation of any equipment that is being used in your care. If you will be using oxygen at home, do not smoke or allow anyone to smoke near you while oxygen is in use.
Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.
- Your advocate can ask questions you may not think of while you are under stress.
- Ask this person to stay with you, even overnight, when you are hospitalized. You will be able to rest more comfortably and your advocate can help make sure you get the right medications and treatments.
- Your advocate can also help remember answers to questions you have asked and speak up for you if you cannot.
- Make sure this person understands your preferences for care and your wishes concerning resuscitation and life support.
- Review consents for treatment with your advocate before you sign them and make sure you both understand exactly what you are agreeing to.
- 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 and whom to call for help.
Know what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common healthcare mistakes.
- Ask about the purpose of the medication and ask for written information about it, including its brand and generic names. Also inquire about the side effects of the medication.
- If you do not recognize a medication, verify that it is for you. Ask about oral medications before swallowing and read the contents of bags of intravenous (IV) fluids. If you're not well enough to do this, ask your advocate to do this.
- If you are given an IV, ask the nurse how long it should take for the liquid to "run out." Tell the nurse if it doesn't seem to be dripping properly (it is dripping too fast or too slowly).
- Whenever you are going to receive a new medication, tell your doctors and nurses about allergies you have, or negative reactions you have had to medications in the past.
- If you are taking multiple medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to take those medications together. This holds true for vitamins, herbal supplements and over-the- counter drugs, too.
- Make sure you can read the handwriting on any prescriptions written by your doctor. If you can't read it, the pharmacist may not be able to either.
Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the healthcare 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, how long the treatment will last, and how you should feel.
- Understand that more tests or medications may not always be better. Ask your doctor what a new test or medication is likely to achieve.
- Keep copies of your medical records from previous hospitalizations and share them with your healthcare team. This will give them a more complete picture of your health history.
- Don't be afraid to seek a second opinion. If you are unsure about the nature of your illness and the best treatment, consult with one or two additional specialists. The more information you have about the options available to you, the more confident you will be in the decisions made.

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The ‘Speak Up’ Program

Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you're getting the right treatments and medications by the right healthcare professionals. Don't assume anything.

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

Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing and your treatment plan.

Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.

Know what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common healthcare mistakes.

Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the healthcare team.