Speak Up Campaign: The Joint Commission
To prevent healthcare errors, patients are urged to speak up. Everyone has a role in making healthcare safe - physicians, healthcare executives, nurses and technicians. 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.
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.
Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you’re getting the right treatments and medications from the right healthcare professionals. Don’t assume anything. Make sure your caregivers and visitors cleanse their hands before and after patient contact.
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.
Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of healthcare organization that has undergone a rigorous on-site evaluation against established, state-of-the-art quality and safety standards, such as those provided by the Joint Commission.
Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the healthcare team.
Source: The Joint Commission
Patient Safety Awareness Week: National Patient Safety Foundation
HCA participates in the Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) sponsored by the National Patient Safety Foundation. PSAW is a national education and awareness-building campaign for improving patient safety at the local level.
Educational activities are centered on educating patients on how to become involved in their own health care, as well as working with hospitals to build partnerships with their patient community.