No one goes into the hospital expecting to pick up a potentially deadly sepsis infection. Yet it’s killing hundreds of thousands of people every year. Some hospitals are better than others at identifying and treating sepsis. How well does your hospital manage sepsis infections? The what, how and why of sepsis. What is sepsis? Sepsis […]
Archive | Patient Safety
Should you Speak Up if You Think Your Doctor is Wrong? YES!
Would you speak up if a waiter brought you a hamburger, but you ordered fish? Would you speak up if the bagger at the grocery store put cans of soup on top of a loaf of bread in your bag? I am guessing that most of us would speak up in these circumstances. After all, […]
Reduce Your Risk of Medical Errors That Even the Best Doctors Can Make
We literally put our lives in the hands of doctors. We trust them to do their jobs well – to heal us and protect us from harm. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. In fact, medical errors are the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States. Do you know what you should do […]
What Happens if You Don’t Get Your Test Results When You Leave the Hospital?
As a hospital patient, it is almost certain that your doctors will order tests to determine your diagnosis and/or treatment plans. Getting the results of these tests, and following through with care based on the findings, is critical for your health. But sometimes you don’t get these results before you are discharged. What happens if you don’t […]
Can Your Medication Make You Sicker?
Medications are a common treatment. So common in fact, many patients take multiple medications. Although medication is supposed to make you better, that is not always the case. Can your medication make you sicker? Unfortunately, yes. Americans take a lot of medication! We are taking a lot of pills! Research estimates that in any given […]
Top Safety Concerns for Patients
Each year ECRI Institute* creates a list of the 10 top patient safety concerns to support healthcare organizations in their efforts to proactively identify and respond to patient safety hazards. Patients and family caregivers can use this information to be better informed – knowing what hazards are lurking can help us avoid being a victim. Don’t ignore these top […]
Is it Safe to Have Surgery in a Surgery Center?
The thought of surgery, or any invasive procedure, is scary for most people. And hospitals can be intimidating places, with infections and other dangers lurking. Add to that the high costs of hospital procedures and a possible long drive. It’s no wonder that more and more patients are choosing surgery centers. The question to consider: […]
Hospital Safety Grades – How Safe are Hospitals?
By zaggocare on December 4, 2017 in Evaluating a Doctor or Hospital, Hospital Issues, Medical Errors, Patient Safety
Learning about your hospital’s safety record may safe your life! Hospitals are where we go to seek care and treatment. Many of us go fully expecting to heal and come home better than when we went in. And no one goes expecting to get sicker. And while all hospitals have policies and procedures in place […]
Nursing Home Safety Issues Can Pose Dangers for Your Loved Ones.
Not all nursing homes are well managed. How can you keep your loved ones safe? When a loved one is too old or sick to care for themselves, many families consider putting the patient in a nursing home or rehab facility which can provide 24-7 medical attention for their loved one. However, putting a loved one […]
Reduce Your Risk of Exposure to Superbugs in Hospitals
No one wants their hospital stay to make them sicker than they were upon admittance. Whether you (or a loved one) are in the hospital for a serious illness or a straight-forward surgery, developing an infection from a dangerous superbug can leave you clinging to life. The bad news: superbugs in hospitals are common and […]