7 Must Know Safety Tips for Hospital Patients

 

We’ve all heard of medical horror stories that end in disaster, but did you know that there are things you can do as a hospital patient to lower your chances of becoming one of them? Far from earning a medical degree yourself, there are many simple things any patient can do to make their hospital stay as effective as possible. To help, we have gathered seven tips that anyone going into a hospital should know.

1. List allergies – One of the most common hospital mistakes, patients who are allergic to certain kinds of medication will accidentally be given it. Make sure you alert hospitals to all allergies when checking in. You can even request colored allergy bracelets to wear at all times.
2. List current medications – If you are one of the millions of Americans who take prescription medication, don’t be shy when checking into a hospital. Some medications can be harmful when taken with others, and it is important for a hospital staff to know. It is also a good idea for you to know which medications you should not be taking.
3. Use the bracelet – That little bracelet you get on checking into a hospital is there for a reason. With the use of bar code technology, nurses and doctors can easily see what you’ve been taking and are about to take, so make sure they scan each time.
4. Talk to your doctors – Make sure your hospital doctor knows why you are there at all times. Miscommunication can lead to medical errors in a serious way. Also be sure that you understand what tests, diagnosis, or treatments you receive before continuing any plan.
5. Talk to surgeons – If you are in the hospital to have a surgery, be sure to speak to the surgeon doing the procedure. This way, he or she can know exactly what is going to be done, as well as the face of who they are doing it to.
6. Hygiene – Because infections are the number one killers in hospitals, make sure you, your medical staff, and your visitors are washing their hands, covering sneezes, etc. before touching you. It’s also a good idea to stay away from doctors with ties.

Bring an advocate – The above may be easy enough for someone who is in good shape, but what about those who are not? It’s always a good idea to bring a family member or trusted friend to the hospital with you and have them read these patient safety tips. There are even patient advocates for hire who do this sort of work on a regular basis

Source: http://www.pharmacydegrees.net

Paige Dagmar is a student and also writes for <a href=”>Pharmacy Degrees</a> which helps students find the right pharmacy degree