By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Person-Centered HealthCare: How to Stay Safe While at the Hospital
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Public Health > Person-Centered HealthCare: How to Stay Safe While at the Hospital
Public Health

Person-Centered HealthCare: How to Stay Safe While at the Hospital

Greenhouse Gnome
Greenhouse Gnome
Share
6 Min Read
Image
SHARE

Image

“Hospital-acquired infections from all causes are estimated to cause >90,000 deaths per year in the United States and are the sixth leading cause of death nationally,” a CDC study revealed. Any large organization such as a hospital is bound to let people fall through the cracks. Become an empowered patient and improve the safety of your hospital stay by getting involved in your care.

Image

“Hospital-acquired infections from all causes are estimated to cause >90,000 deaths per year in the United States and are the sixth leading cause of death nationally,” a CDC study revealed. Any large organization such as a hospital is bound to let people fall through the cracks. Become an empowered patient and improve the safety of your hospital stay by getting involved in your care.

More Read

Ronald Gilbert, MD, husband, father, respected physician
When Gun Violence Strikes Close to Home
Online Patient Communities Garner Interest at Social Media Week, Toronto
Lyme Disease Vaccine: Cautionary Tale or Opportunity for Renewed Activism?
A New Era for the Public Healthcare Sector
ikaSystems CEO Joe Marabito on Transforming Health Plan IT Systems [TRANSCRIPT]

Prevent and control infections 

  • Catheters – Ask your doctor whether you still require a catheter. According to the CDC, leaving it in place for too long increases the risk of infection. If you spot redness or drainage or feel soreness around the catheter or surgical incision site, or if your bandages look wet, dirty or fall off, inform your nurse or doctor.
  • Clean hands – If you spot a healthcare provider or visitor not washing their hands, ask them to.
  • New needles – Ask your healthcare provider if they are using new needles, syringes and vials for your care.
  • Spot C. diff. – Let your doctor know if you have severe diarrhea, especially if it occurs while on an antibiotic.

Getting help at the hospital 

  • Nurses – The bedside nurse is your first point of contact and should be the one you turn to for most issues. If she’s not serving you properly resolve the issue with the charge nurse. If that fails, turn to the nurse manager or supervisor.
  • Doctors – If you have issues with your resident doctor, turn to the attending physician or hospitalist. If that fails, ask for the department head, the highest in command.
  • Social services – If you have a hard time communicating with your nurse and doctor ask for a social service staff member, who can assist in communication, provide patient support and schedule family meetings.

For more information on the healthcare hierarchy in hospitals, read Getting the Help You Need in the Hospital.

Keep a patient journal

Hospitals are large, busy, crowded. Don’t get lost in the shuffle as you get handed from one staff member to another. By recording the tests you’ve taken, it will remind you to look for the results, should they get lost or forgotten about. Taking a record of medications will make it easier to verify the proper dosage. Either you or your advocate can keep the journal during your stay. Download a free patient journal at the Empowered Patient Coalition.

Spot the warning signs of a rapidly declining patient

Download and print Warning Signs of a Rapidly Declining Patient. This resource sheet made freely available by the Empowered Patient Coalition will help you anticipate issues before turning into problems. Both yourself and your advocate should study this because in an emergency situation, knowledge is the key to quick response.

Recognize and prevent adverse events

Adverse drug events – Get to know what drugs are associated with adverse drug events by reading Drugs Associated With Serious Adverse Events and doing research on these drugs.

Bed sores – check your skin daily, looking for pink or red skin that may itch, hurt or feel warm to the touch. For more information read Prevent Pressure Ulcers (Bed Sores).

Blood clots – Recognize and Prevent Blood Clots lists risk factors such as: Having a recent surgery, age above 65, being on bed rest, using hormones, heart disease, obesity, a broken bone or a prior history of blood clots. Symptoms include sudden pain, swelling in the arms or legs, and skin redness.

photo courtesy kubelik2

References:

The Empowered Patient Coalition: Ten Things Fact Sheets

CDC: Patient Safety – Ten Things You Can Do to Be a Safe Patient

Eili Klein, David L. Smith DL, et al. Hospitalizations and deaths caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, United States, 1999–2005. CDC. Dec. 2007 

The Empowered Patient Coalition – Publications 

Resources:

Canadian Patient Safety Institute

Empowered Patient Canada

If you like this post, please read other posts in the series on the Person-Centered HealthCare main page. And if you have a story to tell that may be a fit with our series, please comment below or email me at joan@socialmediatoday.com

TAGGED:ePatienthospitalsPerson-Centered HealthCare
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Nurse Scheduling Software
Evaluating 7 Best Nurse Scheduling Software
Nursing Technology
October 28, 2025
contamination
Batch Failures And The Hidden Costs Of Contamination
Health Infographics
October 21, 2025
Medication Management For Seniors
Simplifying Medication Management For Seniors
Infographics Senior Care
October 21, 2025
Guide To Pursuing a Career in Nursing as a Foreigner in the USA
Collaboration Is the Prescription for Better Patient Care
Health
October 20, 2025

You Might also Like

Q and A: Addressing an Enormous Public Health Problem with a Simple Technology Solution

January 15, 2014

A New Way to Treat Panic Attacks

March 25, 2011
Health ReformPublic HealthWellness

When The RN Needs To Relax: Solutions To Help Nurses Manage Stress

May 20, 2019

Increased Prevalence of Stroke Hospitalizations Seen in Teens and Young Adults

September 2, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?