Steps You Can Take To Prevent Hospital Errors
As a Delaware malpractice lawyer, I believe that there would be fewer medical errors if patients took a more active role in their care. Let's talk about infections in hospitals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services. According to the CDC, 2 million people come down with infections in the hospital every year, and 90,000 of these people die as a result. There are lots of reasons why this occurs, but there’s something you can do to help avoid becoming infected.
How many times have we all heard in recent months that it’s important to wash your hands? Well, less than half of the doctors and nurses adhere to this essential step. Insist that anyone who touches you first wash their hands with soap or an alcohol-based solution. This includes your visitors. If you don’t see them do it, politely ask if they have. According to some studies, hospital employees are more likely to wash their hands if they know someone is watching them. Insist that nurses and others who attend to you wash their hands. You may feel funny asking them to wash, but it’s important if you want to keep dangerous bacteria from causing infection.
When you're in the hospital, be sure to have a member of your family, a friend, or even a private duty nurse to be your advocate. This person should stay with you during the day and even overnight. They can ask questions you might not think about, and they can help make sure you get the right medicines and treatments. Also, your advocate can help remember answers to questions you’ve asked. Importantly, your advocate should ask your doctor what to look for if your condition is getting worse, and who should be called if this happens.
A lot of doctors wrongly assume that patients understand the discharge instructions that they go over quickly. When you’re being discharged from the hospital, ask your doctor to explain the treatment plan you should use at home. This includes learning about your medicines and finding out when you can get back to your regular activities. This is another time when having an advocate there with you can be very helpful.
