Mountain Pacific Blog

We like to think health care professionals are perfect. However, as we all know, “to err is human.” That’s why we all must work together to do our part when it comes to patient safety.

It’s Patient Safety Awareness Week, an opportunity to learn how to protect your health when seeking health care. While health care professionals do everything they can to keep us safe, we can also take steps to protect ourselves.

1. Protect yourself and your family from infections.

The hospital or clinic is where we go to get better when we’re sick. But that means we are exposing ourselves to people who are also carrying germs and illnesses that can be contagious. Being sick or having to undergo health care procedures or surgeries makes us vulnerable to picking up infections. To make sure you don’t leave a health care facility sicker than when you arrived, do the following:

• Regularly wash your hands. Simply having clean hands is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and to prevent spreading germs.
• Take antibiotics only when your provider says you need them. More on that to come.
• Watch for signs of infection. If you see something out of the ordinary on your body, such as redness or swelling, or if you’re running a fever or feeling sick, tell your doctor right away.
• Get vaccinated against preventable sicknesses and infections, especially the flu and pneumonia. If you have any questions about what immunizations you should get, talk with your doctor.

2. Do not demand antibiotics if your doctor doesn’t prescribe them.

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics lead to serious infections and harmful side effects. Antibiotics fight bacteria, not viruses. Taking antibiotics when we don’t need them contributes to antibiotic resistance. Germs (bacteria) adapt to survive. If they are overexposed to antibiotics, they can grow to be stronger than the antibiotic designed to kill them. These antibiotic-resistant “super bugs” are very hard to treat. People with infections caused by super bugs are often hospitalized and can even die.

We all have a role in using antibiotics correctly to help prevent antibiotic resistance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a helpful handout about antibiotic facts, including when antibiotics are the right answer, and when they’re the wrong one.

3. Be an engaged member of your health care team.

No one knows your body like you do. When visiting with your doctor, be open and honest about your symptoms. If you don’t understand your diagnosis or your treatment options, ask questions until you do.

Here are some tips to help you take an active role in your care:

• Think about your visit before you go. Make a list of any concerns or questions you have. Organize your list with the most important questions first, in case you don’t have time to ask them all. When you call for your appointment, let them know your main concern(s) to help your provider better understand how much time to schedule with you.
• Know all the medications you’re taking. Either take a current list or put all your medications into a bag and take them with you. This includes over-the-counter medications and supplements.
• Use the Internet wisely. If you are looking up information about your health online, write down what you find and take the information with you. But remember: Information from the Internet is not always reliable. Make sure you’re visiting trustworthy websites.
• Ask your doctor to speak in simple terms. Health care professionals do not always realize when they’re speaking a language the average person can’t understand. If your provider is using a medical term that is new or unknown to you, ask him or her to explain it and to use plain language.
• Take notes. The best way to make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions is to write them down. You can also ask your doctor for a summary of your visit, or you can take a friend or loved one with you to help take notes.

Remember: You are an important member of your health care team. By being an informed and engaged patient, you can help make sure you are kept safe from serious harm when you visit your doctor or the hospital.