Blog

Fort Wayne Indiana Personal Injury Lawyer and Attorney Blog

Non-Profit Group Publishes Guide on How to Reduce Hospital Errors During Stay

By Jack H. FarnbauchJanuary 4, 2018

The non-profit Leapfrog group has published an insightful article that offers helpful advice on preparing for your hospital stay. The Leapfrog group provides health grades for medical care facilities based on 27 measurements, which are all currently in use by national measurement and reporting programs. The article states that the list of suggestions will help protect you from medication errors and other medical malpractice. Below are some of the highlights.

- Bring a family member or friend to the hospital with you. This way, even when you are not feeling well, this person can be alert, ask questions, provide important information, and step in if there are any problems.

- Bring all the medicines you are currently taking so that your health care team can review them. Don’t forget over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements and herbal remedies.

- Use your call button to ask for help in getting to the restroom or to walk around the hallway.

- Wear non-slip socks or footwear that fit well to avoid falls.

If one of your friends or family members is in the hospital, Be present for rounds, shift changes and any major conferences with the care team. If you are not invited, ask when these events are likely to happen. Hospital schedules aren’t perfect, but team members may be able to coordinate schedules if you communicate with them.

The whole article is worth a read and can be very helpful items for you or a loved one. It is available using this link. Also, you can check out the Leapfrog group’s website for a health grade on the facility you are considering.