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Patient Safety - Outpatient
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Outpatient Safety Information
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At Affinity Medical Center we want to provide a safe and secure environment during your visit with us. We are asking you to assist us by taking an active part in your health care. This information is for you and your family to help us ensure your health and safety while in the hospital.
Ask Questions
Tell your doctor or nurse if something doesn’t seem quite right. Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don’t understand, ask again. There may be a number of people involved in taking care of you. Feel free to ask questions about your care and express your preferences and concerns.
Staff Identification
All Affinity Medical Center employees, volunteers and doctors are required to wear name badges that identify their name and department. If someone taking care of you is not wearing a name badge, please ask him or her to put it on or ask for another staff person.
Patient Identification
Your patient identification bracelet (ID band) is very important for many reasons. It contains information that hospital employees need in order to safely provide your care. Please do not remove your ID band until you have left the hospital. Do not let anyone give you medications, tests or procedures without them either checking your ID band or asking you to identify yourself.
Hand Washing
All healthcare workers who have direct contact with you must wash their hands. They may also use waterless antibacterial hand gels. This is the best way to prevent the spread of infection. Consider asking your caregivers if they washed their hands. They should also wear gloves for certain procedures such as drawing blood or starting an IV. If these things are not done, please ask to speak to their supervisor.
Describing Symptoms
A physical examination and medical tests provide valuable information about your condition, but your description of symptoms and/or pain can be the key to your diagnosis and treatment. When asked about your symptoms or pain, try to state when they started, what time of day they occur, how long they last, how often they occur, and if they are getting better or worse. The more accurate details you can give, the better.
Medications
Your doctor, nurse and pharmacist have major roles in medication safety while you are here. We have a system of checks and balances in place for your protection. You play just as important a part in safely managing your medications. You owe it to yourself to learn as much as you can about the medications you are taking.
- Always bring a list of all your medications to the hospital. Include the dose and how often you take them. Don’t forget to include over-the-counter medications, home remedies, herbal medications including tea, vitamins and any weight gain or weight loss products.
- Communicate the way you take your medications, especially if different from how they were prescribed.
- Let your doctor and nurse know of any allergies and type of reactions or side effects you have.
- If you do not recognize a medication that is given to you, ask why it is being given to you. Your medication here may be different than what you take at home.
- Do not take any medication unless your health care worker verifies who you are.
Allergies
Make sure your doctor and other healthcare workers know about any medication, food, latex or other allergies you may have.
Tobacco Use
Tobacco use on any Affinity Medical Center property is prohibited. Smoking cessation advice packets will be offered to all patients that smoke. In addition, we can obtain other aids to help control nicotine cravings. Please ask your nurse for assistance.
If You Are Having a Procedure
Make sure you understand what will happen if you are having a procedure. Research has shown that patients who are informed about their procedure can better work with their doctors to make the right decisions. Your doctor and you will have discussed the risks, limitations, benefits and alternatives involved in the procedure you are about to have.
Checking the Surgical Site
There are multiple checks in place to confirm the correct surgical site. If your procedure involves left or right side, your doctor or nurse will mark the correct side with a marking pen on the day of surgery. Help us out. Point out the correct side of your surgery.
After Your Procedure
You may be given medications during your procedure that may affect your ability to remember what happened. Therefore, you may not recall that your doctor and/or anesthesiologist talked with you after your procedure. Your family will be informed when your procedure is over. You may call your doctor or discuss the results at the first office visit.
Pain Management
We want you to be as comfortable as possible. Although it may not be possible to eliminate all pain, there are methods to reduce pain to tolerable levels. Please let us know when you are having pain. You will be asked to rate your pain on a scale of 0 – 10, with 0 being no pain and 10 being severe pain. Reporting pain on a number scale helps the doctors and nurses know how well your treatment is working and whether changes should be made.
Test Results
Make sure you get the results of all tests and procedures. Ask your doctor when and how you will get the results. Don’t assume the results are okay. If you don’t hear anything, call the doctor and ask questions.
Discharge Instructions
When you are discharged home ask your doctor and nurse to explain your discharge instructions. You should receive written instructions that will include:
- Activity allowed including any restrictions on driving or making serious decisions
- Medication you should be taking after discharge
- Any diet restrictions
- Any special needs or equipment
- Follow-up appointments or tests
- Symptoms that will alert you to call your doctor
Security
We provide 24-hour security staff that makes frequent rounds. Security staff is available to escort visitors to their cars. Dial “0” and ask the hospital operator for security.
Taking an active role in your care has many advantages. Rest assured that our primary goal and commitment is to provide a high level of quality care to help you achieve your best possible health. We welcome and encourage your involvement.
If you have any safety concerns while you are a patient here, please ask to speak to the director of your area or to the Nursing Coordinator.
*The information contained on this website should not be considered specific medical advice and is not meant to replace professional medical advice. | |
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