Patient Safety - Patient and Family Roles and Responsibilities
Everyone has a role in making health care safe - physicians, health care executives, nurses and technicians. Health care organizations across the country are working to make health care safety a priority. At St. Joseph's, we are very concerned about your safety during your stay. You, as the patient, can also play a vital role in making your care safe by becoming an active, involved and informed member of your health care team.
Providing Information
- Provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to your health or your family member's health.
- Report any problems or issues in the care you are receiving and any unexpected changes in your condition or the condition of your family member to the nurse or doctor immediately. If you wish to speak with someone other than your nurse or doctor, please ask your nurse for his/her supervisor.
Ask Questions
- Ask questions when you do not understand what you have been told about your care or the care of your family member, or what you are expected to do.
Follow Instructions
- You and/or your family member are responsible for following the care, service or treatment plan outlined by you and your physician and nurse.
- Express any concerns you may have about your ability to follow your plan or course of treatment.
- If possible, we will adapt the care or treatment plan to meet your needs and limitations.
- If you choose not to follow your care plan, you are responsible for understanding the consequences of the treatment alternatives and not following the proposed plan.
Following Rules and Regulations
- We ask that you and/or your family member follow the hospital's policies and procedures concerning patient care and conduct.
Showing Respect and Consideration
- We ask that you and/or your family member be considerate of the hospital's personnel and property, be considerate of other patients, help control noise and disturbances, follow smoking policies, and respect other's property.
- We ask that you or your family member report any breaks in policies that you may observe which pose a risk to patient care.
