One of Lake Region Healthcare Corporation’s goals is to encourage and support open and honest communication with you, your family, and your health care team.

• We participate in the Minnesota Hospital Association’s Patient Safety Registry. This provides us with the latest safety information from around the state.
• We encourage you, your family, and staff to speak up if there is a safety concern.
• It is our policy to be open and honest with you and your family by informing you of the potential results of your care, including unexpected results.
• We encourage you to designate a family spokesperson to help communication with your family and the health care team.
• We encourage you to complete a satisfaction survey. We survey our patients to learn about their hospital stay experience. We review these surveys and make changes as a result of your comments.
• We welcome the opportunity to discuss the care you receive. If you have comments, questions, or concerns, please contact us.
  

Key Safety Highlights

• Our hospital participates in statewide safety and quality activities:
  • We participate in the Minnesota Hospital Association’s Patient Safety Registry. This allows us to share safety resources and knowledge with hospitals across the state.
  • Our hospital is committed to provide information to our patients and their families by completing the Leapfrog Group survey at www.leapfroggroup.org
• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ranked Minnesota 4th in the nation for providing quality care to Medicare patients.
• We participated in the VHA 2002 Patient Safety Initiative.
• We are participating in the VHA 2003 Patient Safety Initiative.
• We actively participate in VHA quality improvement initiatives.

Consumer Tips

MEDICATION SAFETY

Ask your doctor and pharmacist about the medicine
What is the name, benefits, and possible side effects or reactions with other medications or food/beverages?

1. WHAT IS IT? Make sure you know the name and color of the medicine. Take medicine in well-lit areas.
2. WHAT IS IT FOR? Make sure you know why the medicine is being taken.
3. HOW DO I TAKE IT? Ask the doctor or pharmacist to explain how to take the medicine and how often it should be taken.
4. WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR? Ask what the results should be and possible reactions.

Double-check your prescription
Before you leave the pharmacy, check your medicine to make sure it was prepared for you. Speak up before you leave because pharmacies typically do not take back medicine once it has been purchased.

Discuss previous allergies or reactions
Make sure the doctors, nurses and pharmacists, know about any allergies or reactions to drugs you or your family member might have.

Brown-bag it
Bring the medicines or a list to every appointment. Include over-the-counter, herbal, or dietary drugs. Throw away old medicines.

AT THE HOSPITAL OR CLINIC

Have someone with you
Bring a family member or friend who knows your medical history and who can also ask questions. This can help to ensure the best care possible. Family members often provide the comfort and support needed to promote your return to good health.

Bring medicines
Bring all the medicines you are taking or a list of medications to every appointment.

Be active and speak up

1. SHARE MEDICAL INFORMATION. Write down and carry important medical information with you. Keep a list of medical history, office visits, and medication use. Medical information should include allergies and the names, addresses and phone numbers of important health care providers.
2. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE PLAN OF TREATMENT. Ask the nurse or doctor to explain any test results and the plan of treatment. If anything is not clear, speak up and ask questions.
3. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT MEDICINES SHOULD BE TAKEN. Make sure you know what has been ordered for your care. Ask questions if the medicines look different from before.
4. WASH HANDS. Patients, family members and caregivers should wash hands frequently to prevent the spread of infection.
5. KNOW WHO IS IN CHARGE OF CARE. Make sure that someone, such as your personal doctor, is in charge of the care for you or your family member. This is especially important in a hospital or in case of a complex illness. Ask if your primary physician will be at the hospital.
6. TAKE NOTES. Write down any questions about the patient’s condition, treatment, clinic visit or hospital stay. Take notes about what you learn from your caregiver. A the end of your visit to the clinic or hospital, ask for information in writing, including information about medicines, follow-up care, and your treatment plan.

Learn as much as you can
It is up to you to learn as much as you can about the care and treatment. The most important way you can help to prevent medical errors is to be an active and informed member of the health care team. This means taking part in every health care decision.

PREPARE FOR SURGERY

Ask questions
Prior to surgery, talk to the physician and nurse about any concerns.

Talk about the procedure
Make sure that you, the doctor and surgeon all agree and are clear on exactly what is going to be done.

Mark the area
Make sure the body area to be operated on is clearly marked.

Helpful Resources

Patient Safety: Your Role: Patient Responsibilities.pdf

The Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety (www.mnpatientsafety.org)

20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors (www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tips.htm)

20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors in Children (www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tipkid.htm)

Ways You Can Help Your Family Prevent Medical Errors! (www.ahrq.gov/consumer/5tipseng/5tips.htm)

Five Steps to Safer Health Care (www.ahrq.gov/consumer/5steps.htm)

Institute for Safe Medicine Practice ‘Alerts for Consumers’ (www.ismp.org/consumers/default.asp)

National Council on Patient Information and Education (www.talkaboutrx.org/)

National Patient Safety Foundation (www.npsf.org/)