Patients, Families, Visitors: Partners in Health Care
Patients, families and visitors also are members of our safety team.
Our “Safety Team”
All of our staff members at the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers are committed to providing the highest quality care in the safest manner and surroundings possible. As our patient, you too are part of this health-care team. We are committed to helping you participate as an active, informed member of this team – and communication is the key.
Security
U of M enforces a strict approach to security. All U of M health-care employees – doctors, nurses and all other staff members – must wear name badges with a photo identification while on duty. If someone approaches you without a badge, ask to see his or her identification. If the person fails to produce an identification card, immediately notify a nurse or staff member. A white coat or stethoscope is not a substitute for an ID badge.
Because it serves as your patient identification while in the Hospital, the wristband or ID tape placed on your body at the start of your stay is very important. Please ask your caregiver to have it replaced immediately if it comes off. You will find this identification is checked many times while you are in the Hospital. If the process seems to be repeating itself, the process is working! When hospitalized here, infants and small children wear an additional security band. Be sure to check with your child’s caregivers to learn more about the security system and the best areas for walks and other visits. Please secure personal items, such as your eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aides or contact lenses. It is best to leave any unnecessary valuables at home.
Handwashing is important
Washing hands or using hand sanitizer is the single most important thing that anyone can do to prevent the spread of germs. U of M Hospitals & Health Centers policy requires each health-care provider to wash his or her hands or to use hand sanitizer before and after performing any “hands-on” procedures with patients. Speak up to staff members if you did not see them wash or sanitize their hands. It’s for everyone’s benefit.
Know who is in charge of your care
Always stay informed about who is in charge of your care. This is especially important when many different physicians are involved, or if you have numerous health problems. If you are ever unsure, simply ask for the name of the doctor in charge of your care. It is also your right and responsibility to follow up on any tests you have had. Always ask the doctor or health-care staff for the results.
Educate yourself about your health
Ask for information on your medical conditions, treatments and medications. Our Web site: www.med.umich.edu/, has information on many health-care topics. Ask a family member or friend to be your health-care advocate and, when appropriate, to participate in decisions about the health care you receive. We will ask you about Advanced Directives, such as a Durable Power of Attorney for health care and a Living Will. If you have an Advanced Directive, please bring a copy with you to the Hospital or Clinic for our records.
Recognize your medication
We treat thousands of patients every day and medication is often a part of their care. Our staff undergoes continual education regarding the medications they prescribe and administer. Safety systems are in place to ensure that you receive the correct medication.
As the patient, you are part of the safety system.
- If your medications do not look familiar, speak up and alert your nurse or doctor. It does not hurt to double check.
- Make sure our staff checks your ID wristband or tape before giving you any medication. Many names sound alike.
- Tell our staff about any allergies to food, medicines or other things when you are admitted to the Hospital or at your clinic visits. Please tell us if you take any herbal remedies or over-the-counter medications.
- When you visit the pharmacy to fill your prescription, check the medication to be sure it looks familiar. If it looks different from what you have taken in the past, ask your pharmacist to explain why. Most of the time the medicine will be correct, but once again it does not hurt to speak up as an informed patient.
Preventing falls
We all play a role in preventing falls. If you use a cane or walker at home, you also should use it in the Hospital. Be sure to tell your doctor and nurse if you have poor vision, or if you begin feeling dizzy or weak. Use your bedside call light if you need assistance to get in or out of bed. Ask the nurse if you need to have a therapist teach you how to use these safety devices. Remember, it is important to follow activities ordered by your doctor or other caregivers. If you become confused while in the Hospital, we may ask a family member to stay with you.
Pain Control
Tell your doctor or nurse if you are having pain. There are several times that you may expect a nurse to ask you to describe your level of pain, such as upon admission or visits to clinics, as a part of an ongoing assessment, and after the start of any pain-control measure. The caregiver will ask you to score your pain level on a scale of 1 through 10. If you are given a special IV pump for pain control, called Patient Controlled Analgesia, ask our staff if you are not sure how it works. There are many different medicines for pain relief. Tell our staff if you have had pain relief in the past from a specific medicine.
Surgery Preparation
If you need surgery, make sure that you, your doctor, your surgeon and your nurse know what procedure will be done. We will check many times before your surgery to be sure we are addressing the correct problem or area. If the process seems to be repeating itself, the process is working! The multiple checks are there to make sure that all participants are in agreement – including you. Please ask your doctor or nurse if you have any questions about the surgery.
Your input is important
We may ask you to complete a survey or participate in a focus group to gather your feedback on the health care that you received. Please participate. Your opinion and comments about your experience here are important to us and help us continue to improve.
See something unsafe? Is there something we have missed or can do better? We want to hear about it right away! Please inform your doctor, nurses and our other staff members, who will know whom to contact to improve the situation. Don’t wait for a satisfaction survey to tell us about a problem – we want the opportunity to make sure you have the best health-care experience possible.
