Take care of yourself and your loved ones:

 

The best way to get the best outcome and avoid medical associated errors is to prevent the need for hospital care find out what you can do to stay healthy. (Links to Citizens4health get personal)

 

Learn about the quality of care and How Safe is Your Hospital?  Provides you with the publicly reported outcomes at the hospitals you may consider for treatment of your medical conditions.

(Links to Citizens4health  Give your Hospital a Checkup)

 

Hospital survival guide: Consumer Reports’ advice on how to prevent infections, drug mix-ups, unnecessary tests, and other common hospital errors. The guide provides you a step by step action plan to achieve the best results before, during and after the hospitalization.

(Links to Consumer Reports)

 

Here's the Consumer Reports’ advice for a safe hospital stay, from check-in to discharge. We assume you'll be staying overnight, but much of our advice applies to outpatient visits, too.

 

For the entire guide  ◊ Before you are admitted ◊ When you check in ◊ During your stay ◊  When you leave  ◊  Have you been harmed in the hospital?     

  

The Safe Healthcare Services Contract:  The contract “formalizes” what you and the hospital will do to achieve the best outcome for your medical problem.

 

Achieve the best outcome for hospital care

 

Hospital care is particularly important as there is great variability in quality as well as risk for medical errors. Although you may not have a choice for emergency care there is a lot you can do to get the best outcome for health conditions requiring hospital care. This section will help you with information tools and checklist for choosing a hospital, making sure you get best care while in the hospital and the care is coordinated when you leave the hospital.  

 

Achieving the best healthcare outcomes requires a team effort. Take responsibility for your part. Should you need hospital care there are important actions you may take before during and after the hospitalization to have the best health outcome. Click on the links below for steps you can take, our suggestions and tools may save your life.

 

Hospital survival guide: (Cal Hospital Compare) The guide provides you a step by step action plan to achieve the best results before, during and after the hospitalization.

 

For elective hospitalizations:  Identify your medical needs, discuss with your doctor. Select hospitals that have better outcomes, prepare, advocate while hospitalized, get the best post surgical care. (Cal Hospital Compare)

Choosing a Hospital ◊ What to Look for in a Hospital ◊ Check Coverage and Costs ◊Consider Other Hospital Features ◊ Make a Decision ◊ Your Hospital Stay ◊ Understand Your Treatment ◊ Ensure Your Rights & Preferences                           

◊ Get Ready To Go ◊ Know Your Risks ◊ Leave the Hospital

 

Help in the hospital Speak up: The best way to solve a health-care related problem is to do it face to face, right when the problem is occurring. State your concerns, needs, and expectations clearly. (Links to The Assertive Patient : A Guide to Speaking Up When You Are Dissatisfied with A Health Care Experience)

 

Discharge from the hospital (care coordination and follow up plans)

If you have been a patient in the hospital, you may think that most of your medical needs have been taken care of by the time you're ready to leave. You may also assume that everyone on your medical team—your doctors, nurses, and therapists—is on the same page about your future care needs.

 

Do your part to achieve the best surgical care outcome

 

Surgery is a process and in order to have the best outcome each step along that process must be carried out in the most effective and safe manner. You don’t want to have surgery is another treatment will achieve the similar outcome. You don’t want to have surgery at a facility and by surgeons that are not best for achieving the result you need. You don’t want to have a bad outcome because of inadequate preparation. You don’t want to have difficulties because the after care was not coordinated or inadequate.

 

Before having surgery ask your physician these questions  This information will help you decide about the surgeon and best place for the surgery

Get a second opinion

 

Learn about the quality of surgical care and How Safe is Your Hospital?  Provides you with the publicly reported outcomes at the hospitals you may consider for treatment of your medical conditions. (Links to Citizens4health  Give your Hospital a Checkup)

 

Learn the basics about safe surgical care

Resources and public reporting for hospital’s safe surgical care

The Safe and Effective Surgical Care Contract:  The contract “formalizes” what you and the hospital will do to achieve the best outcome for your medical problem and surgery.  

 

Learn more how to Achieve the Best Outcome for Hospital Care (Links to Get Personal Hospital Care) and more specific information