Patient Safety

A Culture of Safety for our Patients: Our first priority is safety and prevention of injury. Despite constant and committed efforts, from time to time, patients may be harmed rather than helped by healthcare. While these outcomes are at times unavoidable, at other times, they result from preventable mistakes or errors in the provision of care.

To assist you in managing your care, the following is information regarding Condition (H)elp, adverse events, reporting safety issues, and falls.

Condition H(elp)

Barton Memorial Hospital is committed to providing the highest level of safe, quality care. Our Condition H program provides a hotline for patients and their visitors to call if they become concerned with a patient’s care and there is one of the following: deterioration in a patient’s condition that is concerning and not being addressed; an urgent (non-emergency) need to get the attention of the hospital staff; a communications breakdown of how care is being provided; uncertainty about what needs to be done next in a patient’s care plan.

To make a Condition H call, dial the extension 5860 from any hospital phone. Provide your name, the patient’s room number, the patient’s name and the patient’s concern. Within 10 minutes of calling, a team of critical care clinicians will arrive at the patient’s bedside to reassess the patient’s condition. Our goal is to address the immediate needs of the patient.

Adverse Events

Adverse events happen when something that was planned as a part of a patient’s medical care doesn't go as planned, or may even happen when everything does go as planned. Adverse events can occur anywhere in the healthcare system: hospital, clinics, outpatient surgery centers, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, pharmacies, or patients’ homes. Adverse events can involve many things including: medicines, surgery, diagnosis, equipment, or lab reports. They can happen during even the most routine tasks, such as when a hospital patient is on a salt-free diet and is given a high-salt meal.

What Can You Do? Speak Up!

The single most important way you can help to prevent errors is to be an active member of your healthcare team.
Make sure all of your doctors know about the prescription and over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements, including vitamins and herbs, that you are taking.
Make sure your doctor knows about any allergies and adverse reactions you have had to medicines.
When your doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can understand it.
Don’t be afraid to tell the nurse or the doctor if you think you are about to receive the wrong medication.
Ask for information about your medicines in terms you can understand both when your medicines are prescribed and when you receive them.
When you pick up your medicine from the pharmacy, ask: Is this the medicine that my doctor prescribed?
If you have any questions about the directions on your medicine labels...ask for clarification.
Ask your pharmacist for the best device to measure your liquid medicine. Also, ask questions if you’re not sure how to use the device.
Ask for written information about the side effects your medicine could cause.
If you are in the hospital, consider asking all health care workers who have direct contact with you whether they have washed their hands.
When you are being discharged from the hospital, ask your doctor or nurse to explain the treatment plan you will use at home.
Ask a family member or friend to be there with you and to be your advocate (someone you can help get things done and speak up for you if you can’t).
Review consents for treatment with your advocate before you sign them and make sure you both understand what exactly you are agreeing to.
Make sure that all health professionals involved in your care have important health information about you, including your preferences for care and your wishes concerning resuscitation and life support.
Don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion. If you are unsure about the nature of your illness and what treatment is best, consult with one or two additional specialists. The more information you have about the options available to you, the more confident you will be in the decisions being made.
Learn about your condition and treatments by asking your doctor and nurse and by using other reliable sources.

Falls

Certain conditions make us more prone to falls and other accidental injuries. Here are just a few:

Multiple Medications: The more medications you take, the more likely you are to experience dizziness or other risky side effects. Tell all of your health care providers about the drugs you are taking. Ask them about any side effects that might place you at risk for falls.
Walking Difficulties: Shuffling, weakness, stooped over posture, inability to walk a straight line, numbness or tingling of toes can make falls more likely. Ask your doctor about assistive devices such as a cane or walker and learn how to use them correctly.
Chronic conditions that interfere with thinking, such as Alzheimer’s Disease.
Impaired vision or hearing.
Two or more falls in the past 6 months. If you are falling frequently, talk to your doctor. It’s important to find out why.
Fear of falling: Do not cut back on your normal activities. Inactivity can actually lead to more falls because of lost muscle strength. Your doctor can also recommend an exercise program to increase muscle strength and coordination, which can help reduce the risk of falling. If you feel unsteady on your feet, talk to your doctor. You may benefit from a cane or walker.

Guidelines to Prevent Falls in the Hospital:

Always follow your physician’s orders and the nurses’ instructions regarding whether you must stay in bed or if you require assistance to go to the bathroom.
When you need assistance, use your call light or bell by your bed or in the bathroom and wait for the nurse/ assistant to arrive to help you.
Ask the nurse for help if you feel dizzy or weak getting out of bed. Remember you are more likely to faint or feel dizzy after sitting or lying for a long time. If you must get up without waiting for help, sit in bed awhile before standing. Then rise carefully and slowly begin to walk.
Wear non-skid slipper socks whenever you walk in the hospital. If you don’t have any, ask your nurse for some.
Remain in a fully reclined or seated position while waiting for assistance. Please be patient. Someone will answer your call as promptly as possible.
Do not tamper with side rails that may be in use. Side rails are reminders to stay in bed and are designed to ensure your safety.
Walk slowly and carefully when out of bed. Do not lean or support yourself on rolling objects such as IV poles or your bedside table.
Do not use furniture with wheels to assist you.