Patient safety is a team effort. Patients who take an active part in decisions about their

healthcare tend to get better results. Here are some tips to help you protect your safety:

Brigham and Women’s HospitalPatient Safety Office617-732-7543

Patient & Family Relations

617-732-6636

Faulkner HospitalPatient Safety Office

617-983-7449

Patient & Family Relations617-983-7425

Additional resource:The Joint Commission

800-994-6610

Your Partners in Safe Care

We Care About Your Safety

4. Preventing Medication Errors

Medication Safety at Home

• KeepalistofALLthe medicine you take: • Prescribedmedications • Aspirin • Herbalsupplements • Vitamins • Othersyoubuyatadrugstore

• Bringyourlistofmedicationsandallergies everytimeyouvisityourdoctor’sofficeor hospital.

Immunizations

• Influenza(flu)andpneumoniacancause seriousillness.Therearesafevaccinesavailable.

• Whileinthehospitaloratyournextdoctor’svisit,askyourdoctorifyouneedafluand/orpneumoniashot.

MedicationSafetyattheHospital

• YourmedicationsandyourIDbraceletmaybescannedtomakesureyoureceivethe rightmedicine.(ComingthisWintertoFaulknerHospital)

• Weuseacomputertotrackallyourmedications.

• Beforeyouaregivenamedication,askwhatitisandwhyyouneedit.

• Youwillreceiveanupdatedlistofallyourmedicationsbeforeyougohome.

• Besureyouunderstandwhichmedicationsyouwillbetakingathome.

5. Preventing Falls

FallPreventionatHome

Fallscanhappenanytime,topatientsofanyage.Followingthesesimpletipscanhelppreventfalls.

Make your home “fall” safe •Getridofthrowrugs •Useanight-light •Usehighwattlight bulbsinhallways, bathrooms&stairwells •Usestairrailings

Always wear non-skid footwear

Adopt a healthy lifestyle •Stayactive •Limitalcohol •Seeyourdoctor •Haveyourmedicationschecked

FallPreventionattheHospital

Call for helpIfyouaretoldnottogetupbyyourself,pleaseusethecalllightandwaitforastaffmembertoassistyou.

Keep personal items within reach •Calllight/TVremote •Telephone •Tissues •Eyeglasses

Take your time; situpforafewminutesbeforestandingtoavoidgettingdizzy

1. Patient Identification

• Wewillaskyouwhoyouareeachtimeyou comeinforappointments,receivecare,or haveaprocedure.

• Forexample:Beforeyouhaveabloodtest orbeforeanursegivesyoumedication.

2. Staff Identification

• Isthestaffpersonwearinga badge?

• Canyoureadit?

• Ifyoucannotseeabadge,ask thestaffpersontotellyouwho theyareandwhattheydo.

3. Patient Involvement

• Involveyourfamilyorafriendinyourcare.

• Donotbeafraidtospeaktoyourhealthcare teamifyouhaveconcernsaboutyourcare orsafety.

• Tellyourhealthcareteamifyouarehaving pain.

• Eitheryouoryourfamilycantellyour healthcareteamifyourconditionworsensso thattheycanquicklyrespond.

• Askforresultsoftestsorprocedures.

• Besureyouunderstandallinstructions.

• Askquestionsaboutyourcareathome.

• Knowwhotocallifyouhaveanyquestions orproblemsonceyouleave.

• CallPatientFamilyRelationsortheJoint Commissiontoexpressanyconcerns.

Updated: July 2009

8. Preventing Surgical Infections

WoundCareattheHospital:

• Donotbeafraidtoremindyourhealthcareteamtowashtheirhandsbeforecaringforyourwound.

• Makesureyouknowhowtocareforyourwound&drains.

WoundCareatHome:

• Woundstendtofeelitchyastheyheal,butdonotscratch.

• Alwayswashyourhandsbefore&aftercaringforyourwound.

• Callyourdoctorimmediatelyifyouhave: •Fever •Painatwoundsite •Rednessatwoundsite •Drainagefromwound

7. Preventing Surgical Infections BeforeSurgery:

• Tellyourdoctoraboutanyothermedicalproblems(e.g.allergies,diabetes,andhighbloodpressure).

• Quitsmoking

• Donotshavenearyoursurgicalsite.

• Askyoursurgeonwhetheryouwillreceive antibioticsbeforesurgery.

InfectionPreventionattheHospital:

• Thesurgeryteamwillwashtheirhandsandarmstotheirelbowswithanantisepticsoapbeforesurgery.

• Theywearhaircovers,specialgowns,masks,andglovestokeepthesurgicalareaclean.

9. Surgical Procedures

AttheHospital:

We will check your identification many times.

• Wewillaskyourfullnameanddateofbirth.

• WewillcheckyourIDbraceletmanytimesandaskyoutosaywhoyouare.

We will ask you to tell us what you know about your condition.

• Youmaybeaskedwhyyouarehavingsurgeryoraprocedure.

We may mark your body.

• (Ifyouarehavingsurgeryoraprocedure,)Yourdoctormaymarkyourskintomakesureweareusingthecorrectsitefortheoperationorprocedure.

Ask your doctor about the Safety Pause or Time Out.

• Yourdoctorandcareteamwilltakea“SafetyPause”or“TimeOut”justbeforetheprocedurebegins–tomakesurethatalltheinformationaboutyouandyourprocedureiscorrect.

6. Preventing the Spread of Germs

GermPreventionatHome:

Hand Washing

• Handwashingwithsoapandwateroranalcohol-basedhandrub,likePurell,isthebestwaytopreventspreadinggermsandillness.

• Washyourhandsbefore&after: •Eating •Usingatissueforcough •Changingachild’sdiaper •Goingtothebathroom

Cover Your Cough: • Topreventspreadinggermswhenyou

cough/sneeze,useatissueoryoursleevetocoveryourmouth/nose.

• Alwaysdisposeoftheused tissueinthetrashandwashyourhands.

GermPreventionattheHospital:

Hand Washing

• Yourhealthcareteamtakeshandwashingveryseriouslyandfollowsstrictguidelines.

• Donotbeafraidtoremindyourhealthcareteamtowashtheirhandsbeforecaringforyou.

Gown and Gloves • Yourhealthcareteam,andsometimesfamily

members,maybeaskedtowearagownandglovestohelppreventthespreadofgerms.