Patients Urged to SPEAK UP on Health Care
A column by State Senator Pat Browne
16th Senatorial District
Even with the great health care available through modern
medicine, it's no fun going to the hospital for surgery.
There is nervousness and discomfort. And, while medical
errors are relatively rare, they do happen. A report by the
Institute of Medicine has identified medical errors as a
serious problem in the health care system.
In response, the General Assembly enacted the Medical
Care Availability and Reduction of Error ("MCARE") Act. The
MCARE Act was designed to ensure access to doctors, reduce
costly litigation and strengthen physician reporting
requirements. It also implemented comprehensive new patient
safety measures.
Among those measures was creation of the independent
Patient Safety Authority. Members include physicians,
nurses, pharmacists and attorneys. The panel's job is to
reduce and eliminate medical errors by identifying problems
and recommending solutions that promote patient safety in
hospitals and other health care facilities.
MCARE requires more than 460 registered Pennsylvania
health care facilities to report "serious events" and
"incidents" (near errors) to the authority. Based on the
reports, the authority issues quarterly Patient Safety
Advisories to help hospitals reduce and prevent patient
harm.
It's important to remember that we, as health care
consumers, can play a key role in ensuring safe medical
care. The authority has also compiled some helpful tips that
patients can use to improve safety. It's called the "SPEAK
UP" campaign.
- SPEAK
UP if you have questions or concerns about your healthcare
and, if you don't understand, ask again. It's your body
and you have a right to know.
- PAY
ATTENTION to the care you are receiving. Make sure you're
getting the right treatments and medications by the right
healthcare professionals. Don't assume anything.
- EDUCATE
yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are
undergoing, and your treatment plan.
- ASK a
trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.
- KNOW
what medications you take and why you take them.
Medication errors are the most common healthcare mistake.
- USE a
hospital, clinic, surgery center or other type of facility
that has undergone a rigorous on-site evaluation against
established state-of-the-art quality and safety standards,
such as that provided by the state Department of Health or
outside accrediting organizations like the Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
(JCAHO).
-
PARTICIPATE in all decisions about your treatment. You
are the center of the healthcare team.
For more information, look for "Tips for Consumers" at
the Patient Safety Authority web site,
www.psa.state.pa.us.
It's easy to become intimidated in a medical setting, but
an open dialogue with your doctors and nurses can go a long
way in relieving anxiety. We all need to remember to eat
right and get our exercise. But, when medical care is
required, please remember to SPEAK UP.
