Patient & Family

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Sparks Health System Patient Safety

Patient & Family Involvement

Get Involved. Sparks Health System urges patients and families to be actively involved in their treatment both in the provider’s office and in the hospital settings and to become a member of their care team. The Joint Commission has developed tools for patients to become more engages in their care. The program is termed ‘Speak Up’.

  1. 1. Speak up if you have questions or concerns.
  2. 2. If you still don’t understand, ask again. It’s your body and you have a right to know.
  3. 3. Pay attention to the care you get. Always make sure you’re getting the right treatments and medicines by the right health care professionals. Don’t assume anything.
  4. 4. Educate yourself about your illness. Learn about the medical tests you get, and your treatment plan.
  5. 5. Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate (adviser or supporter).
  6. 6. Know what medicines you take and why you take them. Medicine errors are the most common health care mistakes.Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that has been carefully checked out. For example, The Joint Commission visits hospitals to see if they are meeting The Joint Commission’s quality standards.
  7. 7. Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.

Other ways to participate in your own care are to:
  1. 1. Give clear and detailed information to providers about your condition and symptoms.
  2. 2. Ask questions about your diagnosis and treatment plan and know what to expect.
  3. 3. Alert staff of changes in your condition.
  4. 4. Help prevent infections by washing your hands and asking to staff to wash theirs.
  5. 5. Ask you provider about getting vaccinated for pneumonia, influenza and other infectious diseases.
  6. 6. For surgical patients, take part in surgical site verification