| “Don’t go to the hospital alone, if you can possibly avoid it.” Melinda Beck, “Bedside Manner: Advocating for a Relative in the Hospital,” Wall Street Journal, 28 October 2008. In other words, take someone with you who can ask questions and advocate for you when you can’t do it yourself. |
May 11, 2010
Avoid Medical Errors
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May 4, 2010
Prevent Blood Clots
If you are hospitalized, ask to be evaluated to assess your risk of developing blood clots. If you are at risk, ask what the plan is to prevent this problem. |
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April 27, 2010
Emphasize Handwashing
If you are in the hospital, ask everyone who approaches your bed to wash their hands — doctors, nurses, family members, etc.If you visit someone in the hospital, remember that you can spread germs; wash or sanitize your hands before approaching the patient. |
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April 20, 2010
Ask How a Test Will Change Your Care
When your doctor orders a test, ask what new information it will provide — and what will be different in your care or your health as a result of the test.If you don’t get an answer that makes sense to you, it may be useful to discuss with your doctor whether the test is necessary. If you get an answer like, “It is standard practice to order this test,” that’s a hint that it may not provide new information in your case. |
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April 13, 2010
Speak Up in the Hospital
If you feel that something is going wrong with your care, there’s a good chance that you’re right. Speak up. Your life may be at stake.“American doctors and hospitals kill patients through surgical and medical mistakes more often than their counterparts in other industrialized nations.” “World’s Best Medical Care?” New York Times, 12 August 2007. ”‘It’s all too common for patients and family members to remain silent when they suspect something is wrong or improper in their care,’ says David Shulkin, chief executive of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City,” quoted in Laura Landro, “Finding a Way to Ask Doctors Tough Questions,” Wall Street Journal, 04 March 2009. |
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