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OT: 10 WAYS TO PREVENT MEDICAL ERRORS WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL

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10 WAYS TO PREVENT MEDICAL ERRORS WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL

1. Expect mistakes and have an advocate with you in the hospital.

2. Check every medicine. Make sure the dose is right.

3. Be assertive. " Being nice can get you killed. "

4. When in doubt, " say No. " Demand an explanation.

5. Be vigilant during transitions, from one floor to another, or when shifts

change.

6. Alert the nurse or " rapid response team, " if something seems wrong.

7. When discharged from the hospital, get detailed instructions and contact

information. Know what symptoms might signal a worsening situation or infection.

8. Hospital doctors may never speak to your primary care physician. Take your

records and don't assume doctors already know what's in them.

9. Double-check everything. Don't assume no news is good news or that test

results are always correct. Get copies of lab results in a timely fashion. If

something seems wrong, request a repeat.

10. Take a friend or family member to doctor's visits. Nearly every error made

in the hospital can also be made in the outpatient setting. A second pair of

eyes and ears can be very useful in getting instructions and spotting problems.

PATIENT CHECKLIST

Take a list of your top health concerns/symptoms.

Ask your doctor for a recap to make sure you've been heard.

Take notes or record the conversation so you can remember.

Carry a list of all your medicines and supplements.

Find out about the most common and serious side effects your medicines may

cause.

Ask the doctor how confident he is about your diagnosis. Find out what else

could be causing your symptoms.

Get a second opinion.

Ask health care providers to wash their hands before they examine you.

Keep track of your progress: Keep a diary of relevant measurements such as

weight, blood pressure, blood sugar.

Be vigilant when moving from one health care setting to another. Mistakes and

oversights are especially common during transitions.

Ask how to get in touch with health care providers. Get phone numbers or email

addresses, and learn when to report problems.

---

©2011 The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) Distributed by Mclatchy-Tribune

News Service.

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