Help prevent hospital errors: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P A hospital error is when there is a mistake in your medical care. Errors can be made in your:
- Medicines
- Surgery
- Diagnosis
- Equipment
- Lab and other test reports
P Hospital errors are a leading cause of death. Doctors and nurses are working to make hospital care safer.
P Learn what you can do to help prevent medical errors when you are in the hospital.

T Take an Active Part in Your Health Care
P Do all you can to help you and your health care providers stay on top of your care:
- Share your health information with providers in the hospital. DO NOT think they already know it.
- Know what tests are being done. Ask what the test is for, ask for test results, and ask what the results mean for your health.
- Know what your condition is and the plan for treatment. Ask questions when you do not understand.
- Bring a family member or friend with you to the hospital. They can help get things done if you cannot help yourself.
- Find a primary care provider to work with you. They can help if you have a lot of health problems or if you are in the hospital.

T If You Are Having Surgery, Help Keep Yourself Safe
P Go to a hospital you trust.
- Go to a hospital that does a lot of the type of surgery you are having.
- You want the doctors and nurses to have a lot of experience with patients like you.
P Make sure that you and your surgeon know exactly where you are getting your operation. Have the surgeon mark on your body where they will operate.

T Decrease Your Risk for Infection
P Remind family, friends, and providers to wash their hands:
- When they enter and leave your room
- Before and after touching you
- Before and after using gloves
- After using the bathroom

T Take Charge of Your Medicines
P Tell your nurse and doctor about:
- Any allergies or side affects you have to any medicines.
- All of the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbs you take. Make a list of your medicines to keep in your wallet.
- Any medicines you brought from home. DO NOT take your own medicine unless your doctor says it is OK. Tell your nurse if you take your own medicine.
P Know about the medicine you will get in the hospital. Speak up if you think you are getting the wrong medicine or getting a medicine at the wrong time. Know or ask:
- Names of the medicines
- What each medicine does and its side effects
- What times you should get them in the hospital

T Help Improve Safety in the Hospital
P All medicines should have a label with the name of the medicine on it. All syringes, tubes, bags, and pill bottles should have a label. If you do not see a label, ask your nurse what the medicine is.
P Ask your nurse if you are taking any high-alert medicine. These medicines can cause harm if they are not given the right way at the right time. A few high-alert medicines are blood thinners, insulin, and narcotic pain medicines. Ask what extra safety steps are being taken.

T When to Call the Doctor
P Call your doctor if you have concerns about hospital errors.

T Alternative Names
P Medical errors - prevention; Patient safety - hospital errors

T References
P Singer SJ, Vogus TJ. Reducing hospital errors: interventions that build safety culture. Annu Rev Public Health. 2013;34:373-396. PMID: 23330698 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23330698.
P The Joint Commission. Hospital: 2014 National Patient Safety Goals. www.jointcommission.org/hap_2014_npsgs. Updated October 24, 2014. Accessed October 27, 2016.
P The Joint Commission. Hospital: 2016 National Patient Safety Goals. Updated January 1, 2016. www.jointcommission.org/hap_2016_npsgs. Accessed October 27, 2016.
P Wachter RM. Quality of care and patient safety. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 12.

T Review Date 8/22/2016
P Updated by: Laura J. Martin, MD, MPH, ABIM Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

T Related MedlinePlus Health Topics
- Medication Errors
- Patient Safety

