Speak Up!

You Have a Right to SPEAK UP!
The Joint Commission, an important regulatory agency that accredits hospitals, has come up with a program to teach patients that it smart to speak up when they observe unsafe habits or behaviors in the healthcare setting. Pamphlets are available at the Joint Commission website to help patients know what they should expect from their caregivers and how to communicate when those expectations are not being met.
Speaking Up Can Save a Life
As anyone can easily imagine, hospitals are full of infectious organisms, and they can be spread from patient to patient if caregivers are not diligent about wearing Personal Protective Equipment or they fail to wash or sanitize their hands properly. Patients and visitor should never hesitate to remind their caregivers to wash their hands before touching the patient and to wear gloves when doing any kind of treatment, such as starting an IV or changing a dressing. Patients can die from hospital-acquired infections, and it is simply not necessary.
Learn More about WHEN to Speak UP
Smart Patients, Safe Patients was written specifically to educate patients so they know what is safe behavior and what is not. It teaches patients and patient advocates when to speak up, who to speak to, and how to get their message across effectively.
There is No Need to Be Afraid
When I wrote Smart Patients, Safe Patients, I was concerned that I would frighten patients. Truly there is no need to be frightened.  Nurses and physicians are among the most caring, dedicated individuals on the planet. They went into the medicine because they enjoy caring for people. You can be certain they want to provide safe care. As I wrote in the book, medical professionals are human, and they get busy and flustered like most human beings. So while there is no need to be afraid, there IS a need for you to speak up when you observe a caregiver who needs a reminder to be safe.
Safety Measures Abound in the Hospital Setting
There are entire teams in the hospital whose main focus is on patient safety. Every hospital could likely produce a long list of their safety programs and initiatives. Even so, errors continue to be made from time to time. My feeling is that an important missing component in the fight against hospital medical errors is patient education and patient participation. Gone are the days when the patient left all decisions up to the nurse or physician. It is time for patients to take their rightful place as an important member of their own healthcare team and SPEAK UP!
We Are Here to Help You
The more questions you ask, the more educated you will become. Most nurses and doctors enjoy teaching their patients, and they welcome questions. If you have any questions that I might be able to answer, don't hesitate to ask me! You can email your question to safepatients@cox.net or you can post it here for others to view. As your nurses and doctors, we are here for you. And we are glad you are an active part of the team!