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I hear of so many people who were either given the wrong medication or had a medical professional treat them poorly. When they tried to speak up, they were shut down. I’ve had this happen myself. You’re sick, oftentimes on medication, and yet to have to remain alert because the people helping care for you either don’t care or aren’t aware of what you need.
A new article on CNN said that as many as “98,000 people die in U.S. hospitals each year as a result of medical errors.” CNN asked nurses what they would advice to patients on having a stay that is healthy. They reiterated that if something doesn’t seem right, you should speak up.
Again, while I agree with this advice, it doesn’t always work. You’ll get shut down by the hospitals workers and subject to poor attitudes and rolled eyeballs. The medical community needs to understand that people are trying to protect themselves, in some cases, save their own lives. The nurses CNN talked to recommended five points patients should do to help their hospital stay go smoother:
- Bring in a list of the medications you’re taking
- Make sure the hospital gets your name right
- Ask about every medication they give you
- Make sure everyone washes hands
- If you think something’s wrong, don’t back down
I encourage people to do this as well, but warn that the hospital worker may not be caring enough to make this easy. If something is wrong, ignore the rude treatment you’re getting until you can find someone that will do the right thing. Your life and well being depend on it.
Image: sxc.hu.
