Tips to Improve the Safety of Your Care
Gale.S...@risperdal.causes.mania
You are the most important member of your health care team. By working proactively with
other team members—doctors, nurses, surgeons, dentists, pharmacists, etc.—you can minimize
the potential for medical errors. See below for tips on how to get involved with your
own—and your family's—health care.
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Medications
Make sure your doctor knows about all the medications you’re taking.
Tell your doctor or other health care provider which medications you are taking, including
prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, dietary supplements and herbal remedies.
This can prevent harmful drug interactions and unnecessary duplication.
Use a medication record to keep track of your medications—and share it with your health
care providers.
Ask your doctor to write the purpose on the prescription (e.g., for cough); ask your
pharmacist to include this on the prescription label.
Know what you’re getting at the pharmacy.
Whenever possible, always go to the same pharmacy. Just like doctors, pharmacists can do
their best when they know their clients.
When you pick up a prescription, make sure your name is on the prescription drug label and
confirm with the pharmacist the name of the prescription drug and why you’re taking it.
Also check with your pharmacist when the drug name on the label is different than the
prescription your doctor gave you.
Read the directions on your medicine labels—if you have any questions, ask.
Ask about any side effects or interactions with other prescriptions, over-the-counter
drugs or herbal supplements.
Tell your pharmacist about any drug allergies or bad effects you've had from a medication.
Confirm when and how to take the medication (on an empty stomach or with food) and whether
you should refrain from certain activities (such as driving). Find out how what to do if
you miss a dose.
Share your medication record with your pharmacist.
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Doctors
Know how to coordinate your health care.
Make sure each doctor you see knows about any care you’re receiving from other health care
providers.
Carry a medication record with you and share it with all your health care providers.
Make sure all your health care providers have important health information about you. If
you see more than one doctor, take extra care in informing each health care provider about
your health history or current health status.
If you have concerns about meeting with your doctor and asking the right questions, bring
a family member or friend who can help you.
Ask questions about your condition and possible treatments.
Find out the “pros” and “cons” of any treatments or tests. Ask whether there are any
short-term or long-term side effects.
If you have a test and don’t receive test results, ask your doctor’s office about it.
Don’t assume your test results were “fine” and that’s why you didn’t get them back.
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Hospitals
If you know in advance that you're going to the hospital for surgery or a certain
procedure, find out as much as you can about what to expect during your stay. Search for
a doctor or other provider who performs the needed surgery or procedure frequently. Don't
be afraid to ask your doctor for a referral or a second opinion.
Before surgery
Make sure you, your doctor and any other physician involved with your surgery or procedure
agree on what will be done. Be specific.
After you’ve been admitted to the hospital, think about asking health care workers who
work with you whether they have washed their hands. Hand washing helps prevent the spread
of infection.
After surgery
Make sure that when you are discharged you receive detailed instructions on how you should
care for yourself at home. Instructions should include any medication you can/should take,
when you can return to normal activities and a phone number you can call if you have
questions. Request to have this information written down, in case you have questions when
you get home.
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The arrogant, grandiosity gods of the Mental Health System,
blessed with omnipotent power and use of deadly force by the state, grasp human victims in
capricious hands and play with their brains.