Patient Safety Checklists Save Lives

If you are a patient in the hospital, use this checklist to prevent life-threatening medical errors.

Surgical safety checklists have been shown to be very effective in reducing fatal medical errors when used by surgeons and members of the surgical team. The Harvard School of Public Health and the World Health Organization conducted a study led by Atul Gawande (The Checklist Manifesto) and it revealed that patient deaths and complications were reduced by one third.

I created a Patient Safety Checklist for patients and their advocates to use in the hospital to prevent fatal, medical errors. Imagine if patients and their family members worked together in partnership with hospital medical professionals to decrease medical errors that result in nearly a quarter of a million preventable deaths http://www.hearst.com/press-room/pr-20090809b.php I believe in a collaborative effort because hospital medical staff simply cannot do it all. Physicians and nurses deal with patient overload, meaning they are often caring for too many sick patients at one time.

Martine Ehrenclou's Patient Safety Checklist

As a patient in the hospital, you will use this checklist as a safety measure with each new medical professional who administers treatment. Verbally repeat these items before you have surgery, treatments, procedures, and are given medications.  

• Your full name and birth date.
• Your medical diagnosis.
• Your primary physician's name.
• Your current list of medications, dosages, and allergies to medications.
• If you are to have surgery, verbally repeat the name of the surgery and the location of the surgery site on your body.
• If you are to have a treatment or procedure, verbally repeat the name of the procedure and what medical condition it is for.

If you are shy about verbally repeating a checklist to a medical professional, you can ask politely like this:

"Would you mind if I go over a few things before we begin? I'm not doubting you, I just want to play a role in my safety."

Tools To Help Implement The Patient Safety Checklist

1. Your Advocate. If you are a patient in the hospital, ask a family member or good friend to oversee and monitor your care. He or she can implement these strategies if you are unable.
2. The Success of Checklists Includes Repetition. Verbally repeat the items of The Patient Safety Checklist with each new medical professional who administers medical treatment.
3. Safe Surgery. If you are to have surgery in the hospital, ask your loved one who is acting as your advocate to accompany you to the operating room. He or she will not be allowed inside. Ask to see the surgeon or other members of the surgical team. Go over your checklist with the medical professionals: patient's name and birth date, allergies to medications, name of surgery and the correct site on the body which is to be operated on. You can mark this yourself with a permanent marker or ask the surgeon to do it.
4. Monitor Medications. If medications are to be administered, go over your list of medications, dosages and allergies to medications with the medical professionals. If you don't recognize a medication or something seems unusual or out of the ordinary, speak up. Ask questions. 
5. Hospital Infections Are Real Threats to Your Safety. To prevent the spread of hospital infections, ask everyone who comes in contact with you to wash their hands. In a respectful manner, ask all physicians and nurses to wash their hands and put on disposable gloves before touching you. Get a private room if it is feasible. If you do not have a roommate, it cuts down on the number of people who enter your room.
6. Falls Can Happen To Anyone. If you are at risk for falling out of bed due to sedation, recovery from surgery or confusion, ask a loved one to be at your bedside at all times to help you. Patients often try to get out of bed to go to the bathroom and fall, which can cause serious injuries. You can hire a nurse or sitter to fill in for loved ones. 
7. Nobody Wants Skin Breakdown, aka "Bedsores". If you are immobile in your hospital bed, your body needs to be turned regularly to prevent bedsores. Ask your advocate to work with your primary nurse to make sure that your body is turned the appropriate number of times in a day to prevent bedsores. Similar concepts for if you are sitting up; proper positioning and cushioning is essential. 
8. Ask Questions. If you are unclear about any aspect of your medical care or treatment, ask questions. Physicians and nurses are dealing with patient overload and most are doing the best they can. You can partner effectively with them to keep yourself safe in the hospital.