TUESDAY, July 23, 2002 (HealthDayNews) -- It's estimated that 44,000 to 98,000 people die each year in American hospitals as the result of medical
errors.
That makes medical errors the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, ahead of highway accidents, breast cancer or AIDS.
In an attempt to reduce medical error deaths, the U.S. Agency for Health Care Research and Quality offers consumer information on preventing medical errors and improving health care. It's called the Quality Pack (Q-Pack), and you can find it by clicking here.
Most of the information is available in both English and Spanish. The site includes material that tells you how to prepare for various medical tests, how to handle prescription medications, plan for surgery, and how to get the most out of your doctor visits.
There's also a patient tip sheet on what you can do to prevent medical errors. The tips include:
- Be an active member of your health-care team. Take part in every decision about your care.
- Make sure all your doctors know every prescription medicine and over-the-counter product you're taking. That includes vitamins and herbal remedies. At least once a year, bring all your medicines and supplements to your doctor and discuss them to learn if there are any problems. This also helps your doctor keep your records up to date.
- Confirm your doctor knows about any allergies and adverse reactions you have to medicines.
- When your doctor writes a prescription, make sure you can read it. If you have trouble reading it, that means it may also be difficult for your pharmacist to read the prescription.
- Ask for easy to understand information about your medicines. What is the medicine for? How am I supposed to take it? For how long? What side effects are likely? What do I do if they occur? Can I take this medicine with other medicines or dietary supplements that I'm taking? What food, drink or activities should I avoid while taking the medicine?
- When you pick up the medicine from the pharmacy, ask if it's the medicine your doctor prescribed.
- If you have any questions about the directions on the medicine labels, ask your pharmacist about them.
- Ask about the best way to measure liquid medicines.
- Get written information about any possible medicine side effects.
- If you're having surgery and have your choice of hospital, pick the one where your surgery is most common. Research shows patients have better results when they're treated in hospitals with the most experience dealing with their condition.
- When you're in hospital, consider asking all health-care workers whether they've washed their hands.
- When being discharged from hospital, ask your doctor to clearly explain your home treatment plan.
- If you're having surgery, ensure that you, your doctor and surgeon all agree and are clear on exactly what will be done during surgery.
- Speak up if you have questions or concerns.
- Make sure that someone is in charge of your care.
- Make sure that your health information is known by all health-care workers involved in your care.
- Ask a family member or friend to be there with you and act as your advocate.
- Find out why a test or treatment is needed and how it may help you. More isn't always better.
- If you have a test, don't assume that no news is good news. Ask for the results.
- Learn about your condition and treatments by asking a doctor or nurse for reliable sources
.
More information
The National Council on Patient Information and Education has more on medication errors.
