At the hospitals of Texas Health Resources, patient safety is a top priority. Texas Health is dedicated to providing a safe environment and wants its patients and their family members to recognize certain signs of safety on the road to recovery.
The following is a list of important Signs of Patient Safety for patients and their family members to recognize during their care at a Texas Health hospital.
Physicians, nurses and other health care providers should:
- Check patient wristbands to verify accurate identification before administering any medication or treatment.
- Wash their hands before and after initiating any contact with a patient to reduce the risk of infections.
- Assist patients out of bed to prevent harmful falls until a physician specifically advises that the patient may get up without help.
- Mark the site for any surgery or procedure to eliminate wrong-site, wrong-patient or wrong-procedure surgery.
- Ask patients about their allergies or reactions to medications, and be aware of all other medications they are taking, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins or herbs.
- Work closely with pharmacists to ensure that patients receive the correct medications.
- Introduce themselves when they enter a patient's room and properly display their hospital identification badge.
How to keep yourself safe:
- Patients should take an active role in their own health care by knowing about treatment plans, understanding medications, asking questions about care, demonstrating familiarity with tests.
- When in doubt, talk to a physician or nurse about any problems or concerns with the safety of care.
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