Patient Safety Guide

• Safety Tips
• Medication Safety
• Infection Control

Safety Tips

• Discuss your or your child's health history with the care providers:
  • Medication (provide a written list of what you or your child takes, why, how, amount or simply bring the bottles with you to the hospital)
  • Allergies and reactions
  • Previous surgeries
  • Previous hospital admissions
  • Immunizations
    
    
• Participate in and ask questions about your or your child's care:
  
  • Tell your or your child's doctor any concerns you (or your child) have
  • Make sure you and your child understand the care provider's answers (It is OK to ask them to explain the answer again)
  • Repeat the care provider's answers to make sure you understand
  • Write down questions/concerns
    
    
• Make sure you have said it is OK for a care provider to perform a procedure or give medication
  
  
• Know the side effects of a treatment or medicine
  
  
• Inform your or your child's care provider of any situation that you feel puts either of you at risk

Medication Safety

• Tell the care provider what prescrption or over-the-counter (aspirin, cough syrup, viatmins, herbal supplements) medications you our your child take(s) (provide mediciation list or bring bottles with you)
  
  
• Tell the care provider about your or your child's medication allergy and reaction history
  
  
• Understand why you or your child take(s) a specific medication
  
  
• If your or your child's medication is different from what you/he/she received before, then ask the care provider to double check (different color or method - liquid vs. pill)
  
  
• Make sure the care provider checks your or your child's hospital ID band before giving either of you any medication
  
  
• Know the side effects of the medicine and what type of reactions to report
  
  
• Know whom to contact with concerns or questions about a medication you or your child take(s)
  
  
• If you think you or your child could be having a bad reaction to a medicine, IMMEDIATELY alert your care proivder
  
  
• Have the care provider update your or you child's medication list (reason for taking it, amount, how it is take and how often)
  
  
• Always call your or your child's care provider if you have any concerns

Infection Control

• Clean your hands when you come into the patients room and when you leave
  
  
• Remind nurses and doctors to wash their hands before they treat you or your child
  
  
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze