Protecting Yourself
against Medical Errors

Every year, thousands of Americans die because of medical errors. Such errors can occur anywhere in the health-care system and can involve medicines, surgery, diagnosis, equipment and lab reports.

"Errors result from problems created by today's complex health-care system, but errors also happen when doctors and their patients have problems communicating," says Nancy Foster, coordinator of quality for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in Rockville, Md.

The following suggestions can help you protect yourself and your family from such errors:

Take an active role. Research shows that patients who are involved with their care tend to get better results. "It's crucial for patients to question their doctors, pharmacists and nurses if something occurs that's out of the ordinary, such as they're given a pill that looks different from what they usually receive, or are given a test and never hear the results," says Ms. Foster. "Knowing what your care should be and speaking up if you aren't receiving that care is essential."

Keep your doctor informed. Make sure all your doctors know about every medicine or remedy you use. This includes both prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbs. "At least once a year, bring all of your medicines and supplements with you to your doctor," says Ms. Foster. "Doing so can help your doctor keep your records up-to-date, which can help you get better quality care."

Allergy alert. Always keep a list with you at all times of any allergies you have. Make sure your doctor knows about any allergies and adverse reactions you have had to medicines. This can help your doctor avoid prescribing a medicine that can harm you.

Is it legible? When your doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it. "If you can't read your doctor's handwriting, your pharmacist might not be able to either," says Ms. Foster.

Clear terms. Ask for information about your medicines in terms you can understand – both when your medicines are prescribed and when you receive them.

Check drug, dosage. When you pick up your medicine from the pharmacy, ask: Is this the medicine that my doctor prescribed? A study by the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences found that 88 percent of medicine errors involved the wrong drug or the wrong dosage.

Ask questions. Ask any questions you have about the directions on your medicine labels. For example, ask if "four doses daily" means taking a dose every six hours around the clock or just during waking hours.

Become informed. Learn about your condition and treatments by asking your doctor and nurse and by using other reliable sources. The more you know, the better able you'll be to track your recovery and recognize symptoms that could indicate a worsening of your condition.

Source

Krames Staywell

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