Boone County Hospital supports the efforts of many national healthcare organization campaigns to improve healthcare safety by avoiding medication mistakes. Medication mistakes are the most common type of health care error.
While most studies focus only on medication errors in hospitals, the billions of medications prescribed annually at clinics and doctors' offices, filled at pharmacies and taken at home are also prone to error. Some mistakes are more serious than others, but all medication mistakes can be prevented. Boone County Hospital is encouraging every community member to complete a “File of Life” card which people can share with their pharmacists, doctors, hospitals and other caregivers as part of any routine or emergency treatment.
The card can be obtained from your local physician’s office or by calling the Boone County Hospital Foundation Office at (515) 433-8470. Remember to carry the card in your wallet and put it on your refrigerator. Community members should keep the “File of Life” with them at all times and share it with every one of their health care providers.
Boone County Hospital encourages these steps to avoid medication errors with any health care provider or pharmacy:
• Keep a list of current prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbs and supplements and share with your doctor. Use Boone County Hospital’s “File of Life” as a handy reference.
• Let your doctor know about any allergies or reactions.
• Ask your doctor whether it's safe to take medications together or to use certain medications if you take vitamins, herbs and other supplements.
• Understand that more may not always be better. Ask your doctor how a new medication will help.
• Make sure you can read the doctor's handwriting on all prescriptions. If you can't read it, the pharmacist may not be able to either.
• Read the label on your prescription. Does it have your name on it? And, is it the correct medicine? Some medicines have names that sound alike and can be confused.
• Find out whether drinking alcohol is safe with your medicine.
• Make sure the doctor or nurse checks your wristband and asks your name before giving medicine.
• Ask the doctor or nurse why you should take a medication and request written information about the brand name, generic name and any side effects.
• Speak up if you think the doctor or nurse is about to give you the wrong medicine.
• Know what time you normally take a medicine and letting the doctor or nurse know if that doesn't happen.
• Tell your nurse or doctor if you don't feel well after receiving a medicine.
• Ask a friend or relative to get the facts about your medications if you are not well enough to do so.
As part of Boone County Hospital’s Patient Safety Program, staff urges patients to take an increasingly active role in their own health care. The hospital’s campaign urges patients to:
• Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don't understand, ask again. It's your body and you have a right to know.
• Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you're getting the right treatments and medications by the right health care professionals. Don't assume anything.
• Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing, and your treatment plan.
• Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.
• Know what medications you take and why you take them.
• Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team. |