Steps to Getting the Right Care During Your Hospital Stay
Initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO), every year the 17th of September marks World Patient Safety Day to promote global action on patient safety. This year’s campaign focuses on medication safety.
Many of us at some point in our lives will take medication to prevent or treat a medical condition. When receiving care, the expectation is that medication will be correctly prescribed and dispensed, safely administered, and effectively monitored. According to the WHO, ‘unsafe medication practices and medication errors are a leading cause of avoidable harm in healthcare across the world’. While medication mismanagement is unacceptable, greater patient involvement, including knowing and exercising your rights can help to reduce medication errors.
Many of us at some point in our lives will take medication to prevent or treat a medical condition. When receiving care, the expectation is that medication will be correctly prescribed and dispensed, safely administered, and effectively monitored. According to the WHO, ‘unsafe medication practices and medication errors are a leading cause of avoidable harm in healthcare across the world’. While medication mismanagement is unacceptable, greater patient involvement, including knowing and exercising your rights can help to reduce medication errors.
Know your rights
Asking the right questions when hospitalized is the best way to advocate for yourself and reduce potential errors.Right patient:
Prior to receiving medication from a healthcare provider ensure that it is in fact intended for you, and not another patient.
Right medication:
Check that the medication provided is identical to the medication name that is prescribed for you.
Right route:
Medications can be given in many ways, all of which vary in the time it takes to absorb and take effect, and the potential side-effects based on the way it is administered, for example, should it be orally ingested, injected or topically applied?
Right time:
Is it the right time of day? Receiving medication at the time it’s intended is critical. Often, certain medications have specific intervals or window periods during which another dose should be received to maintain a particular therapeutic level.
Right dose:
Ask the healthcare provider to verify your medication dosage prior to administration.
Get a medical second opinion
If diagnosed with a medical condition, any medical condition, reach out to MediGuide. An MSO can ensure the right diagnosis, the right treatment pathway, that you know which medications are right for you and that they are administered safely and correctly. Easily accessible, your MSO benefit is available free as part of your insurance plan. All it takes is a phone call to get started and one of MediGuide’s nurse case managers will guide you through the process.For more information contact us.