Reducing ‘Medical Mistakes’

Patient safety inside and outside the hospital is one of today's most critical health care challenges. And reducing medical mistakes is one of the utmost concerns to hospital administrators and clinicians. The Government and many other private accreditation bodies are working hard to improve health care quality outside our country.
In our country, recently some people are trying to develop consciousness regarding 'accreditation' of hospitals and medical concerned centres. We really need to have a monitoring system for best medical practices and management.
Well, for the time being — the most important thing you/patient can do to improve your/patient's health care by 'asking questions' about your/patient's diagnosis, treatment and any medications prescribed to you/patient. Because the answers you/patient will get can help you, the patient and other family members including the patient to make better decisions and reduce medical mistakes, like:
* Before visiting the clinic/hospital — talk to the patient regarding explaining his/her chief complaints to the doctor
* Write down your/patient's questions before meeting a doctor
* Keep a list of all your/ patient's previous prescriptions
* Bring a family member/friend/at least a colleague with you/patient
* Understand your/patient's options
* Talk to the doctor about which hospital would be best for your/patient's diagnosed specific treatment. Sometimes one good hospital might not have all the departments with good doctors and technicians
* Make sure you/patient understand the instructions you/patient get about follow-up care when you/patient leave the hospital or clinic
* In case of any surgery — make sure you/the patient understand what will happen if you need surgery. You should ask the surgeon — the following questions:
1. Exactly what will the surgeon be doing?
2. About how long will it take?
3. What will happen immediate after the surgery?
4. How can you/the patient expect to feel during recovery?
And don't forget to tell the surgeon, anesthesiologist and nurses about any allergies, bad reaction to anesthesia, and any medications you/the patient.