We want every patient to be a partner with their doctors and nurses so that they always receive the right care at the right time.

Excellent healthcare depends on a partnership of the patient and the healthcare team. To ensure that every patient receives the best care, everyone must take a role in patient safety, including you and your chosen family member or friend.

How You Can Partner with Your Healthcare Team

• Ask questions; invite your family and visitors to ask questions
• Provide complete information about your medical history, allergies, medications, and concerns
• Give your care team the names and phone numbers of all of your doctors, clinics and pharmacies, and we’ll coordinate with them
• Participate in important hospital safety systems:
  
  • Don’t get out of bed in the hospital, even just to go to the bathroom, without a staff person to help you – we don’t want you to fall
  • Remind your visitors and the staff, if necessary, to clean their hands when they enter and leave your room
  • Help us check your identification band every time we give you care or treatment
  • Help the surgeon, if you’re having surgery, make a clear, accurate mark indicating where your surgery will be

The Role of Family Members and Friends

You may find it helpful to identify a family member or friend who can help you while you are in the hospital.  This person can:

• Help keep track of your medications, treatments, and diagnostic tests so you always know what is planned
• Help gather information that the healthcare team needs, such as any medications or supplements you take at home
• Help you remember to ask questions or raise concerns
• If necessary, help the healthcare team make decisions when you cannot do so (we recommend you designate one person your Healthcare Power of Attorney or official decision-maker in the event you are temporarily unable to make decisions)

Learn more about Advance Directives.