Highline Medical Center Endorses
the SPEAK UP program from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don't understand, ask
again. It's your body and you have a right to know.
- Your health is too important to worry about being embarrassed if
you don't understand something that your doctor, nurse or other health
care professional tells you.
- Don't be afraid to ask about safety. If you're having surgery, for
example, ask the doctor to mark the area that is to be operated upon,
so that there's no confusion in the operating room.
- Don't be afraid to tell the nurse or the doctor if you think you
are about to receive the wrong medication.
Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you're getting the
right treatments and medications by the right health care professionals.
Don't assume anything.
- Tell your nurse or doctor if something doesn't seem quite right.
- Notice whether your caregivers have washed their hands. Healthcare
staff also can use a special hand cleaning product that is more effective
than “soap and water” hand washing.
- Make sure your nurse or doctor confirms your identity, that is, checks
your wristband or asks your name, before he or she administers any
medication or treatment.
Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing,
and your treatment plan.
- Ask your doctor about the specialized training and experience that
qualifies him or her to treat your illness (and be sure to ask the
same questions of those physicians to whom he or she refers you).
- Gather information about your condition. Please use the Planetree
Library for information. Ask for more information about this great
resource.
Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.
- Your advocate can ask questions that you may not think of while you
are under stress. We encourage patients to have a CARE PARTNER advocate.
Ask the staff about this program!
Know what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors
are the most common health care mistakes.
- Ask about the purpose of the medication and ask for written information
about it, including its brand and generic names. Also inquire about
the side effects of the medication.
- If you do not recognize a medication, verify that it is for you.
Ask about oral medications before swallowing, and read the contents
of bags of intravenous (IV) fluids. If you're not well enough to do
this, ask your advocate to do this.
- If you are given an IV, ask the nurse how long it should take for
the liquid to "run out." Tell the nurse if it doesn't seem
to be dripping properly (that it is too fast or too slow).
- Whenever you are going to receive a new medication, tell your doctors
and nurses about allergies you have, or negative reactions you have
had to medications in the past.
Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization
that has undergone a rigorous on-site evaluation against established, state-of-the-art
quality and safety standards, such as that provided by JCAHO.
- Highline Medical Center is accredited by JCAHO and is licensed by
the state of Washington.
Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of
the health care team.
- You and your doctor should agree on exactly what will be done.
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