Patient Safety: How to Help Prevent Medical Errors

You can help prevent medical errors by being an active member of your own health care team. Research shows that patients who are more involved in their care tend to get better results.

To lower the risk of errors:

• Ask questions whenever you have doubts or concerns. Bring a relative or friend to appointments to help you ask questions and understand the answers.
• Understand any surgery you need: make sure you know what will happen.
• Tell your providers about all your medicines, including over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements, and about any allergies or bad reactions to anaesthesia. Make sure you know how to take your medicines correctly.
• Get a second opinion about treatment options.
• Keep a copy of your own medical history.

Sources

• MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Patient Safety," from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. https://medlineplus.gov/patientsafety.html
• Rewritten in hubnx's own words.