Improve Your Health Care
Partner With Your Doctors and Nurses
Speak up about questions and concerns
Share your concerns with your physician, nurse, and hospital staff.
- Keep a list of your current medications, past illnesses and surgeries, allergies, and your current concerns. This organizes the information so important factors are not missed.
- When your doctor asks "Do you have questions?" or your nurse asks "Is there anything else?", speak up and share your concerns. What you say often influences your care. They are interested in your health, your concerns, and are in a position to help you.
- After you leave, you may receive a survey about your experience. Fill it in. Your opinions may improve healthcare in the future for many others.
Participate in YOUR care
When you are informed, you will make better decisions about your care, treatment, and prevent problems.
- Take your medications as ordered by the doctor.
- Follow your diet instructions.
- Know what kind of activity is good for your body. If your doctor restricts activity or recommends an assistive device, follow the instructions and exercises.
- These are all designed to help you stay healthy and recuperate as quickly as possible.
- Know your test results and when they need to be repeated.
- Did you know you can prevent many infections just by washing hands and coughing into tissues or your sleeve?
Understand and be informed
Write down your questions and concerns to discuss with your physician or nurse. Ask if the proposed treatment or surgery is effective, necessary, and safe.
- Know what your medications are for and what to expect.
- Discuss with your doctor what to expect and when you will be able to return to your usual activity.
- Ask what symptoms to immediately report to a doctor and who to call for help.
- You may also need to know what will happen if you postpone care or even change your mind after starting treatment.
- Be sure you have written discharge instructions including a complete legible list of your medications. Make sure these are readable.
- There may be alternatives to consider so you may want to discuss the plan with another physician, a family member, or trusted friend.
For more information, ask your own physician, nurse, or pharmacist.