Photo courtesy of The Joint Commission
Together with CMS, The Joint Commission launched a national campaign urging patients and providers to take an active role on issues of patient safety. The program promotes the idea that it is everyone's responsibility for preventing healthcare errors.
The Speak Up program encourages the healthcare team which includes the patients, their families and the entire medical staff to:
Speak up if you have concerns about patient care issues.
Pay attention to problems that could be a potential error.
Educate yourself.
Ask someone to be your advocate (advisor or supporter).
Know what medicines you take (or give) and why.
Use a health care facility that has been carefully checked out. Hospitals are visited by The Joint Commission's to evaluate their quality standards.
Participate in all decisions about your treatment.
Health care providers are encouraged to:
- Download and print copies of Speak Up brochures and posters on www.jointcommission.org
- Insert their own patient safety information
- Distribute materials in waiting areas, at health fairs and during community events
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