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Reducing the Likelihood of Medical Errors

photo of doctor examining patient in hospital bedMany people feel rushed, intimated and embarrassed by asking questions of their doctors and other healthcare professionals.

Many medical errors can be prevented if patients would talk openly with their doctors, ask questions and follow medical orders.  

Twenty Tips to Reduce the Likelihood of Medical Errors

  1. Be an active member of your health-care team.

  2. Make sure all your doctors know about all the medicines you are taking, even over the counter and dietary/herbal supplements.

  3. Make sure your doctor knows about any allergies or reactions you have had to medications.

  4. When your doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it. If you have ANY questions at all ASK. Don’t assume that even if you can’t read it the pharmacy will.

  5. Ask about your medications in terms you can understand ("How am I supposed to take it, with food or without, when should I take it, for how long, what if I forget a dose? What are the side effects?").

  6. When you pick up your medicine from the pharmacy, make sure it is the medicine your doctor prescribed for you. Ask, "Is this the medicine my doctor prescribed for me? MAKE SURE.

  7. If you have ANY questions about the directions on your medication, ASK.

  8. Ask your pharmacist for the best method to measure liquid medicine.

  9. Ask for written information about the side effects of the medicine; some states now mandate this information.

  10. If you are hospitalized, ask each healthcare worker with whom you have contact if they have washed their hands.

  11. Choose a hospital at which many patients have the procedure or surgery you need, visit www.healthcarechoices.org. Health Care Choices, is a nonprofit consumer group that provides information about the number of surgeries performed by doctors and hospitals for heart and cancer surgeries in some states.

  12. When you are being discharged from the hospital, ask your doctor to explain the treatment plan for home.

  13. If you are having surgery, make sure you, your family doctor or PCP and the surgeon all agree and are clear on exactly what will be done.

  14. Speak up if you have ANY questions or concerns.

  15. Make sure that someone such as your family doctor or PCP is involved in your hospital stay if you have other medical conditions that could affect your surgery and/or recovery.

  16. Make sure all health professionals involved in your care have the necessary health information.

  17. Ask a family member or friend to be your advocate and speak for you if you can not.

  18. Be aware that "more" is not always better. You may be better off without certain treatments or tests.

  19. If you have a test, ask for the results. Do not accept, "If you do not hear from us, you know all the tests were negative."

  20. Learn as much as you can about your condition and treatments by asking your doctor, nurse and other reliable sources.

Adapted from a fact sheet by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department of Health and Human Services

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