Healthcare professionals aren't the only group that should take a more proactive role to ensure patient safety - patients also should get in the driver's seat, suggests 21st
Century Consumer, a California nonprofit consumer organization. The organization has developed a consumer-friendly chart as part of a kit that helps patients and their families
track the care they receive and the staff providing it. The kit, which is set for a July pilot test in two California hospitals, will be previewed at the National Patient Safety
Symposium in Dallas later this month.
In addition to the chart, the kit includes:
- a guide to major treatment procedures;
- the hospital's quality pledge and policies; and
- an at-home guide, which is part of the hospital's discharge educational materials.
The Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors also is targeting consumers with patient safety information.
It recently published a guide for patients and families, developed by the Institute for Family-Centered Care, that is distributed to pharmacies, hospitals, health centers and
libraries throughout the state. The guide contains recommendations for safe medication use and what to do if an error occurs.
(National Patient Safety Symposium, Marty Hatlie, 312/274-9695)