Patient safety is a shared responsibility between the people who provide care and the people who receive it. AHRQ's 20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors is the foundation of most modern patient-safety education in the U.S. — these are the ideas that matter most.
Medications
- Keep a complete list of every prescription, over-the-counter drug, vitamin, and supplement you take
- Bring the list to every appointment and hospital admission
- When you get a new prescription, confirm the name, dose, purpose, and side effects before you leave
- Use one pharmacy when possible — pharmacists catch interactions
- Ask about food, alcohol, and driving interactions
Hospital stays
- Confirm your name and date of birth every time a medication or procedure is given
- Ask providers to wash their hands
- Ask about the plan of care every morning
- Ask about warning signs of infection at surgical or IV sites
Surgery
- Confirm the exact procedure and site — in writing — with the surgeon
- Confirm your allergies out loud in the pre-op area
- Ask who will be performing the surgery and who will oversee your care after
Tests and results
- Ask when and how you will receive results — no news is not always good news
- If you have not received results within the promised window, call
- Ask what the results mean and what the next step is
Bring an advocate
- A family member or friend can listen, take notes, and speak up
- Professional patient advocates are available at every hospital
Speak up
Providers are trained to welcome questions. If something feels wrong — a medication you do not recognize, a plan that was not explained, a symptom that is being dismissed — say so.
Key takeaways
- Keep and share an accurate medication list
- Confirm identity and site before every procedure
- Ask for hand hygiene, plainly
- Bring an advocate and speak up
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).