Patient Safety Tips -- What You Need to Know
We want to share some good advice with you from the Joint Commission:
Speak up if you have questions, concerns, or just don't understand. It's your body and you have a right to know.
- Don't be shy about asking questions you may have.
- Be sure to find out who is in charge of your care. This is important because lots of people may be part of your health care team.
- Insist that your doctors and nurses check your hospital armband before giving you any treatments or medicines.
- If you do have concerns about your UK Hospital stay, you or a family member can call the Customer Service Department at 859-257-2178 or 800-431-4894, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or send an e-mail to UKHCCustomerService@email.uky.edu.
Learn more about your diagnosis, tests, and treatment.
Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your support.
- Ask this person to stay with you while you are in the hospital so he/she can ask questions you might not think of and learn the type of care you'll need when you get home or who to call if you have problems.
Know what medicines you take and why you take them
- Learn the purpose of your medicines, brand names and generic names, side effects, and what medicines mix with other medicines, herbs and/or foods by asking questions and reading the handouts we give you.
Take part in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.
- You and your doctor should agree on what will be done in each step of your care.
Handwashing (by everyone) is one of the most important hospital safety precautions!