Patient Tips to Safer Health Care

(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)

• Be involved in your health care
  
  
• Know your medicines!
  
  
• Keep a list of your medicines with you including all prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal medications
  
  
• Know your allergies
  
  
• Know your immunizations
  
  
• Notify your doctor or nurse if you have ever had a reaction to a medication
  
  
• Ask questions about your medicines: you can ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist
  
  
• Ask if you have questions about the directions on the medicine labels
  
  
• Ask questions if you are unsure about how to measure, take, or use your medications and special devices
  
  
• Ask for written information about the side effects of your medications
  
  
• You have a right to ask if your health care workers have washed their hands
  
  
• SPEAK UP if you have ANY questions or concerns or need more information about your condition or treatments!
  
  
• Make sure your health care professionals and providers have all of your important health information
  

Understand what will happen if you need surgery

• Tell your surgeon, anesthesia and nurse if you have any allergies, reactions to anesthesia and medications you are taking.
  
  
• Let anesthesia know if you have had problems in the past with anesthesia.
  
  
• Make sure that you, your physician and your surgeon all agree and are clear regarding exactly what will be done.
  
  
• Ask your surgeon how long it will take and what you and your family should expect to feel during recovery.
  
  
• Make sure that you understand the instructions you get about follow-up care when you leave the hospital.