Patient Safety Tips

A hospital stay can be a disorienting event. There’s a strange bed, strange people, nurses and doctors in and out, and on top of that, a patient is supposed to remember medications, doses, allergies and symptoms.

Before checking into a hospital for an extended stay or an outpatient procedure, here are some tips to make the experience a little bit easier.

• Bring all medications in original bottles.
• Make a list of all medications, dosages and who prescribed them.
  • A printer-friendly medication form is available to download, fill out and bring in to show what has already been prescribed. Download it here (pdf).
  • Note all non-prescription medications (over-the-counter products), vitamins/supplements, herbal remedies, creams and balms.
• Bring a list of all your allergies.
• Bring a list of all the surgeries you've had and the approximate dates you've had them.
• Bring ID, Social Security card, health insurance card, Medicaid or Medicare card (if applicable).
• Bring a spouse's, or other emergency contact's, home and work numbers.
• Make sure the hospital has the name of your primary care physician and your favorite pharmacy's phone number.
• Know the name of the physician who referred you to the hospital (if applicable).

Questions to Ask

• Will I be staying and for how long?
• What are the names of the doctors and nurses I will be seeing?
• What medications will I be given? What are the risks and benefits of each?
• Will the hospital send a report to me personal physician?
• What should I do after I leave the hospital?
• What are the checkout procedures?

Tips for Families and Visitors

• Do not bring food to a patient without first checking with a nurse.
• Do not bring medications (over-the-counter or otherwise) to a patient.
• Wear appropriate attire.
• Do not bring large groups into a shared room.
• Use polite language and keep conversations quiet.
• Do not leave valuables with patients.