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You are the most important member of your health care
team. By working proactively with other team members—doctors,
nurses, surgeons, dentists, pharmacists, etc.—you can minimize the
potential for medical errors. See below for tips on how to get
involved with your own—and your family's—health care.
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Make sure your doctor
knows about all the medications you’re taking.
- Tell
your doctor or other health care provider which medications you are
taking, including prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, dietary
supplements and herbal remedies.
This can prevent harmful drug interactions and unnecessary
duplication.
- Use
a medication record to keep
track of your medications—and share it with your health care
providers.
- Ask
your doctor to write the purpose on the prescription (e.g., for
cough); ask your pharmacist to include this on the prescription
label.
Know what you’re getting at the pharmacy.
- Whenever
possible, always go to the same pharmacy. Just like doctors,
pharmacists can do their best when they know their clients.
- When you pick up a prescription, make sure your name is on
the prescription drug label and confirm with the pharmacist the name of
the prescription drug and why you’re taking it. Also check with your
pharmacist when the drug name on the label is different than the prescription your doctor gave
you.
- Read
the directions on your medicine labels—if you have any questions,
ask.
- Ask
about any side effects or interactions with other prescriptions,
over-the-counter drugs or herbal supplements.
- Tell
your pharmacist about any drug allergies or bad effects you've had
from a medication.
- Confirm
when and how to take the medication (on an empty stomach or with food)
and whether you should refrain from certain activities (such as
driving). Find out how what to do if you miss a dose.
- Share
your medication record with your
pharmacist.
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Know how to coordinate
your health care.
- Make
sure each doctor you see knows about any care you’re receiving from
other health care providers.
- Carry
a medication record with you and
share it with all your health care providers.
- Make
sure all your health care providers have important health information
about you. If you see
more than one doctor, take extra care in informing each health care
provider about your health history or current health status.
- If
you have concerns about meeting with your doctor and asking the right
questions, bring a family member or friend who can help you.
Ask questions about your condition and possible
treatments.
- Find
out the “pros” and “cons” of any treatments or tests.
Ask whether there are any short-term or long-term side effects.
- If
you have a test and don’t receive test results, ask your doctor’s
office about it. Don’t
assume your test results were “fine” and that’s why you didn’t
get them back.
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If you know in advance that
you're going to the hospital for surgery or a certain procedure, find out
as much as you can about what to expect during your stay. Search for
a doctor or other provider who performs the needed surgery or procedure
frequently. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor for a referral or a
second opinion.
Before surgery
- Make
sure you, your doctor and any other physician involved with your
surgery or procedure agree on what will be done.
Be specific.
- After
you’ve been admitted to the hospital, think about asking health care
workers who work with you whether they have washed their hands.
Hand washing helps prevent the spread of infection.
After surgery
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Make sure
that when you are discharged you receive detailed instructions on how
you should care for yourself at home. Instructions should include any
medication you can/should take, when you can return to normal activities
and a phone number you can call if you have questions. Request to have
this information written down, in case you have questions when you get
home.
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