Because We Care

Experience has shown that when patients and their loved ones SPEAK UP for their safety, errors are caught and prevented. Research proves that patients who take part in decisions about their healthcare are more likely to have better outcomes. you, as the patients, can play a vital role in making your care safe by becoming an active, involved, and informed member of your healthcare team. 

If you feel concerned about the fact that everyone is asking the same questions prior to surgery, please remember that it is a safety check. When they ask, know that they want to ensure you receive a safe experience, one that tey would want for their own loved ones.

What to Expect

Your surgeon, anesthesiologist, surgical nurse, and other healthcare providers know there are certain steps that are important to take in order to make sure that you receive proper care. You should expect these steps to be taken.

Correct Patient, Correct Procedure, Correct Treatment, Correct Site

• Many of our staff will ask your name and another identifying piece of information, such as your date of birth, as different people can have the same name.
• You will be given an armband for identification. You should verify that all of the information is correct. All of the healthcare providers should check your identification bracelet. 
• For your safety, all of your healthcare providers should ask both the kind of surgery that you are having and the exact location (on your body) where you will be treated.

If at any time you have questions or concerns, please SPEAK UP!

Prevention of Infection

For your safety and to help control the spread of infection, the facility temperature should be maintained below 73 degrees F. We do not want you to be cold, so please let us know if you would like warming measures.

Hand hygiene has been shown to be the most effective ay to prevent the spread of infection. You should expect every healthcare provider to wash their hands or use hand foam before providing you with any care or performing any test. If you do not see your healthcare provider perform proper hand hygiene or if you are unsure, please SPEAK UP!

Preventing Medication Errors

Before administering any medication to you, your healthcare provider should: ask you your name, ask for an additional identifier (such as your date of birth), ask if you have any allergies and check your armband.

Your healthcare provider should tell you the name of the medication that you are receiving. Before you go home, you should be given a list of your medications and any new prescriptions that your doctor has written up for you. If you have any questions or concerns about your medications, please SPEAK UP!

Preventing Falls

For Your Safety: