Voice of the Diabetic

Voice of the Diabetic

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HELP PREVENT MEDICAL ERRORS

The topic of medical errors

is frequently in the news today. Various estimates suggest as many as 98,000

people die in U.S. hospitals as a result of misdiagnosis, misprescription, and

inappropriate or botched procedures. What can you, the patient, do, to help

keep yourself from becoming a statistic?

First, COMMUNICATE with

your doctor. Do you understand your treatment? What your prescriptions are for?

Does your doctor have a list of EVERY medication and "herbal/dietary supplement"

you are taking?

Eighty-eight percent of

medical errors involve medications. Do you know the names of your medications?

Are you clear on what each is supposed to do? Have you asked about possible

side effects and drug interactions? Have you asked about dosage amounts? Would

you recognize a prescription error, at least enough to ask why the change?

Some conditions, treatments

and/or medications can be disorienting. Do you have a family member or friend

who can be your "advocate," when you are unable to speak for yourself?

When something feels excessive,

unreasonable, or just "a big step to take," you have a right to seek a second

opinion. Do you know how to do this? You have a right to hear or see your test

results. Ask for an explanation.

A more complete outline

of what you can do to help prevent medical errors is available online at: www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tips.htm

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