Patient Safety In The Hospital

Safe in the hospital

An important prerequisite for successful treatment in the hospital is open, trusting communication between the patient and the treating physicians and the healthcare staff who are caring for them. Because the better informed patients are, the better and safer they can be cared for in the hospital. Participating actively in the treatment process as a patient can make a significant contribution to avoiding adverse events in the hospital.

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Tips for a safe hospital stay

Ten simple tips from the "Patient Handbook - Guidelines for a Safe Hospitalization" of the Austrian Platform for Patient Safety should contribute to more safety in the hospital and better treatment results:

1. Ask questions and express your concerns

It is very important that you understand your therapy, your test results, and the reasons for your treatment. Keep asking until you really understand the answers.

2. Share your habits

Tell the attending staff about any medications you are taking, as well as alternative treatments, diets, dietary supplements, herbal and homeopathic medicines, if you are using them. Let the staff know if you have a drug allergy, a food allergy, or any other allergies or intolerance.

3. Take notes during your stay

Keep a journal of your experiences during your illness. It is also helpful to write down any questions so that you remember to direct them to staff.

4. Multiple ears hear more

Take a family member or someone you trust with you to a consultation with the doctor about examinations and their results. It is an advantage if several people hear what the doctor has to say because it reduces the risk of misunderstanding or misinterpretation.

5. Get support from someone you trust

In the event that you are unable to conduct the consultation with the doctor, you can ask your treatment team to speak to someone you trust.

6. Check your personal information

Before individual examinations, treatments or taking medication, you should compare your name and date of birth with the treatment team.

7. Ask questions about your surgery and treatment

If you have to undergo an operation, you should discuss the procedure with the surgeon beforehand. He / she will mark the part of the body where the procedure will be performed.

8. Tell when you are in pain

It is very important that all of your symptoms are known, even if they are not directly related to the condition for which you are being treated.

9. Find out about your follow-up treatment prior to discharge

Ask how to continue your treatment after your hospitalization and what you should do yourself.

10. It is important that you know about your medication

Make sure you know the names of all your medications, how they work and how and how long they are used. To do this, keep a list of medications and find out about possible side effects and interactions, for example with certain drinks or food.