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Is Per Diem Work Right for You?

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:58:33 -0400

Have you ever considered working per diem? Many medical professionals work per diem to pick up some extra money in addition to their full time positions, but others choose to only work per diem shifts without having a full time job.

The Benefits of Per Diem Work

Per diem work pays a lot better than full-time or part-time work because the pay is used as an incentive to fill staff-to-patient ratios that aren’t being met, and the shifts may need to be filled at the last minute. You can work in a variety of settings – you can work in a psychiatric setting like I worked in one day, and the next day be in the ICU. You can discover which services and facilities you like the best, and take only the work you want. You choose your own schedule by accepting the shifts you like – no mandatory overtime.

The Downside of Per Diem Work

Although you have a lot of flexibility when you work per diem, you don’t have a lot of stability. It may be harder to find per diem work in some specialties more than others. (Nurses will probably have an easier time finding per diem work in their area than speech language pathologists or occupational therapists simply due to the fact that medical facilities employ more of them.) Most per diem health professionals receive no benefits like health insurance or vacation time because they are not affiliated with any particular hospital or institution. We all know how expensive health insurance can be, and even more so when you don’t have an employer helping to pay the cost. Without sick time or vacation time, you don’t get paid unless you work, so you need to keep your finances in order in case of emergencies.

Solutions

There is a way to get the best of both worlds. You can enjoy all the flexibility of per diem work without sacrificing the benefits of a full-time job if you work with a staffing agency.

Source: Soliant Health

Posted for the benefits of the nurses.

Travel Nursing vs. Per Diem Nursing

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:55:31 -0400

So you’ve gone to school, learned what you need to know to become a nurse and then proceeded to find your first job at a hospital and start your life in the workforce. Sound about right? Like many nurses and allied health professionals today, very few explore options outside of just becoming another employee of some hospital. Surprisingly many do not know about Travel nursing or Per Diem travel nursing. Each has many advantages not afforded to regular staff nurses with increased pay rates the most beneficial.

So what’s the difference between the two, Travel Nursing & Per Diem Nursing?

Let’s start with Per Diem nursing. Imagine a world where you can pick the shifts you want to work, a job that doesn’t require you to work weekends or holidays. Have you ever thought that this could be possible? Well it is. Do you remember the days of elementary school when you’re teacher would be out sick for a couple days or absent for awhile because they had a baby and then you got the substitute teacher for the next month? Per Diem nursing is similar to that scenario, except now you are the sub.

Working Per Diem allows you to choose the hospital you want to work at and at what times with no requirements attached. Also, the pay rate for your time is much more than that of a staff nurse which is also very enticing. However, like most things that seem to good to be true, there are dangers with being a Per Diem nurse. Remember you are there at the hospital to fill in, and when that hospital has found a permanent replacement or there’s a shift in need, Per Diem nurses are usually the first to go.
What you can do though, is not rely on Per Diem as your main source of income and rather turn it into a supplemental source which enables you to earn more when you need it.

Now on to Travel nursing and it’s advantages, and yes, disadvantages. I imagine if you’re reading this blog you already have an interest in this field or are currently employed as such. LIke Per Diem jobs, you can pick and choose where you want to work. Whether it be in California or West Virginia, the opportunities are boundless. Unlike Per Diem jobs, you are guaranteed your shifts, however you may have to work a weekend or a holiday, which is a slight drawback, but just remember where you are. You wouldn’t be able to enjoy the white sandy beaches or breathtaking views of the Rocky mountains without having took the job in the first place. While under contract, your position is safe from cancellation and permanent staff members are usually the first to be cut. After you have fulfilled your obligation to your agency and hospital you are free to chose another location or if the need is still there, extend your stay at your current location.

There are many agencies out there that offer both Travel Nursing and Travel Per Diem jobs. When you sign on with an agency you will be provided with benefits such as housing, health insurance, retirement plans and shift differentials. There are also bonuses and other perks available to you when signing on with an agency, like Medical Solutions. So remember, do your research, explore your options and see what’s waiting for you… Outside your comfort zone.

Source: Travel Nursing Blogs

Posted for the benefits of the nurses.

Per Diem Corner: Carrying the Load

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:49:05 -0400

The work life of a per diem/float pool nurse is often unpredictable. Assignments and environments change constantly, which is part of the reason we love what we do. However, per diem nurses have come to realize there is one thing that all too often remains the same – the assignment of a ‘heavy load.’

You know what I mean by ‘heavy load’ – it is the one assignment no other nurse on the unit wants anything to do with! This assignment may include the patient whose call light is on automatic standby. Or, the patient who requires total care – not to mention the 83-year-old with dementia determined to prove that climbing over side rails should be an Olympic sport!

We have all been there, after all, we are paid the “big bucks” to handle the stress no one else wants. The load may be heavy, but following these simple tips may lighten your stress:

Remain positive

A positive attitude goes a long way in reducing stress and keeping a level head. Find something to enjoy about your assignment, and you will find more reasons to smile.

Prioritize your to-do-list

Prioritizing your to-do list adds structure to the work assignment and a sense of accomplishment when tasks are completed. This sense of accomplishment will help you keep that positive attitude.

Learn the lay of the land

Be sure to locate items and resources necessary for a productive workday before the start of your shift. Knowing where to go to find routine items, such as clean linen, will lessen your workload tremendously.

Form allies

Familiarizing yourself with a support system is especially important in managing a stressful patient load. Introduce yourself to the charge nurse and unit secretary, and be sure you know exactly how to get in touch with both. Your allies are unit experts, and will guide you in adhering to unit policies.

Know your boundaries

Every nurse has a limit – a point in which we are “drowning,” and require extra support to get patient care done efficiently and safely. Recognize when you are approaching that limit, and call on your allies for a little back-up. Remember to keep patient safety priority by recognizing when you need help.

Source: Travel Nursing Blogs

Posted for the benefits of the nurses.

Tips for your doctor’s visit

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:53:15 -0500

Your visit to the doctor is your time to talk and learn about your health. Patients have a role in their health care, just like doctors, nurses and other caregivers.

This topic includes tips for your visit to the doctor to help you become more active and involved in your health care.

Talking with your doctor

What you can do to prepare for your doctor’s visit. Take all of your prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbs with you when you visit the doctor. If you’re unable to take them with you, take a current list of all the medicines, vitamins, and herbs that you take. Include how much you take.

Write down the following information to share with your doctor:

Your health history. Include allergies and bad reactions you have had to medicines, and the dates of any surgeries and hospital visits.
Your current health problems.
Any questions that you want to ask about your health.

What can you do if you don’t understand what your doctor is saying?

Tell the doctor you do not understand. Ask more questions to help the doctor understand what you need. Tell the doctor if you need someone who speaks your language or who knows sign language. Ask a trusted friend or family member to come with you.

Posted from the link of JOCO for the benefits of the health care providers.

Five Things You Can Do To Prevent Infection

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:48:18 -0500

Avoiding contagious diseases like the common cold, strep throat, and the flu is important to everyone. Here are five easy things you can do to fight the spread of infection.

1. Clean your hands.

• Use soap and warm water. Rub your hands really well for at least 15 seconds. Rub your palms, fingernails, in between your fingers, and the backs of your hands.

• Or, if your hands do not look dirty, clean them with alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Rub the sanitizer all over your hands, especially under your nails and between your fingers, until your hands are dry.

• Clean your hands before touching or eating food. Clean them after you use the bathroom, take out the trash, change a diaper, visit someone who is ill, or play with a pet.

2. Make sure health care providers clean their hands or wear gloves.

• Doctors, nurses, dentists and other health care providers come into contact with lots of bacteria and viruses. So before they treat you, ask them if they’ve cleaned their hands.

• Health care providers should wear clean gloves when they perform tasks such as taking throat cultures, pulling teeth, taking blood, touching wounds or body fluids, and examining your mouth or private parts. Don’t be afraid to ask them if they should wear gloves.

3. Cover your mouth and nose.

Many diseases are spread through sneezes and coughs. When you sneeze or cough, the germs can travel 3 feet or more! Cover your mouth and nose to prevent the spread of infection to others.

• Use a tissue! Keep tissues handy at home, at work and in your pocket. Be sure to throw away used tissues and clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.

• If you don’t have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose with the bend of your elbow or hands. If you use your hands, clean them right away.

4. If you are sick, avoid close contact with others.

• If you are sick, stay away from other people or stay home. Don’t shake hands or touch others.

• When you go for medical treatment, call ahead and ask if there’s anything you can do to avoid infecting people in the waiting room.

5. Get shots to avoid disease and fight the spread of infection.

Make sure that your vaccinations are current—even for adults. Check with your doctor about shots you may need. Vaccinations are available to prevent these diseases:

• Chicken pox

• Measles

• Tetanus

• Shingles

• Mumps

• Meningitis

• Hepatitis

• Diphtheria

• Flu (also known as influenza)

• Whooping cough (also known as Pertussis)

• German measles (also known as Rubella)

• Pneumonia (Streptococcus pneumoniae)

• Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Posted from the link of JOCO for the benefits of the health care providers.

Know Your Rights

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:07:56 -0500

You have rights and a role regarding your treatment and care. This brochure has questions and answers to help you find out about your rights and role as a patient. Knowing your rights and role can help you make better decisions about your care.

What are your rights?

You have the right to be informed about the care you will receive.
You have the right to get information about your care in your language.
You have the right to make decisions about your care, including refusing care.
You have the right to know the names of the caregivers who treat you.
You have the right to safe care.
You have the right to have your pain treated.
You have the right to know when something goes wrong with your care.
You have the right to get an up-to-date list of all of your current medicines.
You have the right to be listened to.
You have the right to be treated with courtesy and respect.

Ask for written information about all of your rights as a patient.

What is your role in your health care?

You should be active in your health care.
You should ask questions.
You should pay attention to the instructions given to you by your caregivers. Follow the instructions.
You should share as much information as possible about your health with your caregivers. For example, give them an up-to-date list of your medicines. And remind them about your allergies.

Can your family or friends help with your care?

Find out if there is a form you need to fill out to name your personal representative, also called an advocate. Ask about your state’s laws regarding advocates.

How can an advocate help with your care?

They can get information and ask questions for you when you can’t. They can remind you about instructions and help you make decisions. They can find out who to go to if you are not getting the care you need.

Can your advocate make decisions for you?

No, not unless they are your legal guardian or you have given them that responsibility by signing a legal document, such as a health care power of attorney.

Can other people find out about your disease or condition?

The law requires health care providers to keep information about your health private. You may need to sign a form if you want your health care providers to share information with your advocate or others.

What is “informed consent?”

This means that your health care providers have talked to you about your treatment and its risks. They have also talked to you about options to treatment and what can happen if you aren’t treated.

What happens if something goes wrong during treatment or with my care?

If something goes wrong, you have the right to an honest explanation and an apology. The explanation and apology should be made in a reasonable amount of time.

How do you file a complaint?

First, call the hospital or health system so that they can correct the problem. Next, if you still have concerns, complaints can be sent to the licensing authority or The Joint Commission.

The Joint Commission provides a complaint form on its website at www.jointcommission.org.

Questions to ask before you enter the health care facility

Can you have an advocate? Do you need to sign a document so your advocate can get important information about your care?
What will be done to make sure I don’t get an infection?
Is there a form you need to sign about life-saving actions, like resuscitation?
Is there a form you need to sign about life support?
Does the organization allow members of your religion to visit and pray with you?
What kind of security does the facility have? Is there a 24-hour guard or alarm system?
Whom do you speak to if a problem arises? How does the organization handle complaints?
Are there any procedures that cannot be done at this facility for religious reasons?
Can you get a copy of your medical record and test results?

Posted from the link of JOCO for the benefits of the health care providers.

Help avoid mistakes with your medicines

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:49:08 -0500

Medicine mistakes happen every day—at the doctor’s office or hospital, even at home. You can get the wrong medicine. Or, you can be given the wrong amount of medicine.

Questions and answers to help prevent mistakes with your medicines.

Who is responsible for your medicines?

A lot of people—including you!

• Doctors check all of your medicines to make sure they are OK to take together. They will also check your vitamins, herbs, diet supplements or natural remedies.

• Pharmacists will check your new medicines to see if there are other medicines, foods or drinks you should not take with your new medicines. This helps to avoid a bad reaction.

• Nurses and other caregivers may prepare medicines or give them to you.

• You need to give your doctors, pharmacists and other caregivers a list of your medicines. This list should have your prescription medicines over-the-counter medicines (for example, aspirin)

vitamins, herbs, diet supplements, natural remedies, amount of alcohol you drink each day or week and recreational drugs.

What should you know about your medicines?

• Make sure you can read the handwriting on the prescription. If you can't read it, the pharmacist may not be able to read it either. You can ask to have the prescription printed.

• Read the label. Make sure it has your name on it and the right medicine name.

• Make sure that you understand all of the instructions for your medicines.

• If you have doubts about a medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or caregiver about it

What if you forget the instructions for taking a medicine or are not sure about taking it?

Call your doctor or pharmacist. Don't be afraid to ask questions about any of your medicines.

What can you do at the hospital or clinic to help avoid mistakes with your medicines?

• Make sure your doctors, nurses and other caregivers check your wristband and ask your name before giving you medicine. Some patients get a medicine that was supposed to go to another patient.

• Don't be afraid to tell a caregiver if you think you are about to get the wrong medicine.

• Know what time you should get a medicine. If you don't get it then, speak up.

• Tell your caregiver if you don't feel well after taking a medicine. Ask for help immediately if you think you are having a side effect or reaction.

• You may be given IV (intravenous) fluids. Read the bag to find out what is in it. Ask the caregiver how long it should take for the liquid to run out. Tell the caregiver if it's dripping too fast or too slow.

• Get a list of your medicines—including your new ones. Read the list carefully. Make sure it lists everything you are taking. If you're not well enough to do this, ask a friend or relative to help.

Questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist

• How will this new medicine help you?

• Are there other names for this medicine? For example, does it have a brand or generic name?

• Is there any written information about the medicine?

• Can you take this medicine with your allergy? Remind your doctor about your allergies and reactions you have had to medicines.

• Is it safe to take this medicine with your other medicines? Is it safe to take it with your vitamins, herbs and supplements?

• Are there any side effects of the medicine? For example, upset stomach. Who can you call if you have side effects or a bad reaction? Can they be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week?

• Are there specific instructions for your medicines? For example, are there any foods or drinks you should avoid while taking it?

• Can you stop taking the medicine as soon as you feel better? Or do you need to take it until it's gone?

• Do you need to swallow or chew the medicine? Can you cut or crush it if you need to?

• Is it safe to drink alcohol with the medicine?

Posted from the link of JOCO for the benefits of the nurses and hospitals.

What You Should Know about Pain Management

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:15:47 -0500

There are many different causes and kinds of pain. Pain can be caused by injury, illness, sickness, disease or surgery. Treating pain is the responsibility of your doctor, nurse and other caregivers. You can help them by asking questions and finding out more about how to relieve your pain. This brochure has some questions and answers to help you do that.

Questions To Ask Your Caregivers

What pain medicine is being ordered or given to you?
Can you explain the doses and times that the medicine needs to be taken?
How often should you take the medicine?
How long will you need to take the pain medicine?
Can you take the pain medicine with food?
Can you take the pain medicine with your other medicines?
Should you avoid drinking alcohol while taking the pain medicine?
What are the side effects of the pain medicine?
What should you do if the medicine makes you sick to your stomach?
What can you do if the pain medicine is not working?
What else can you do to help treat your pain?

Talking About Your Pain

Is it important for doctors and nurses to constantly ask about your pain?

Yes. This is because pain changes over time or your pain medicine may not be working. Doctors and nurses should ask about your pain regularly. What do you need to tell your doctor and nurse about your pain? First, tell them that you have pain, even if they don’t ask. Your doctor or nurse may ask you to describe how bad your pain is on a scale of 0 (zero) to 10 with 10 being the worst pain. They may use other pain scales that use words, colors, faces or pictures. Tell them where and when it hurts. Tell them if you can’t sleep or do things like dressing or climbing stairs because of pain. The more they know about your pain the better they can treat it. The following words can be used to describe your pain:

aching
dull
sharp
bloating
numbing
shooting
burning
pressing
soreness
cramping
pressure
stabbing
comes and goes
pulling
throbbing
constant
radiating
tightness
cutting
searing

What can you do when your pain gets worse?

Tell your doctor or nurse. Tell them how bad your pain is or if you’re in pain most of the time. Tell the doctor if the pain medicine you’re taking is not helping.

Should you include pain medicine on your list of medicines or medication card?

Yes! Even pain medicine that you will take for a short time should be listed with all of your other medicines. List all of your pain medicines—those prescribed by your doctor and those you buy over-the-counter.

Managing Your Pain

What can be done to treat pain?

There are many ways to manage your pain. There are medicines that can be used to relieve pain. There are also other ways to treat pain without taking medicine. Your doctor will work with you to find out what works best for you.

What are some of the medicines used to treat pain?

Some pain medicines are acetaminophen, aspirin,ibuprofen, naproxen and opioids. Opioids include morphine, oxycodone and hydromorphone. Many of these medicines come in pills, liquids, suppositories and skin patches. Some pain may be treated with medicines that are not usually thought of as pain relievers. For example, antidepressants.

Are there other ways to relieve pain?

That will depend on your illness or condition and how much pain you have. Sometimes pain can be relieved in other ways. Some other treatments for pain are listed here:

Acupuncture, which uses small needles to block pain
Taking your mind off the pain with movies, games and conversation
Electrical nerve stimulation, which uses small jolts of electricity to block pain
Physical therapy
Exercise
Hypnosis
Heat or cold
Massage
Relaxation

What are the side effects of pain medicines?

It depends on the medicine. Side effects can include constipation, nausea, vomiting, itching and sleepiness.

What can you do if you have side effects or a bad reaction?

Call your doctor or nurse as soon as possible. Find out what can be done to treat the side effect. Ask if there is another pain medicine that may work better for you.

Are you afraid to take a pain medicine?

You may have had a bad experience taking pain medicine in the past, such as a side effect or bad reaction. Or you may be taking a lot of other medicines. Your doctor or nurse should be able to ease your fears. It’s important that you take your medicine.

Are you afraid that you’ll become addicted to pain medicine?

This is a common concern of patients. Studies show that addiction is unlikely. This is especially true if the patient has never had an addiction. Talk to your doctor or nurse about your fears.

Are you afraid that your pain medicine won’t work if you take it for a long time?

This is called “tolerance.” It means that after awhile your body gets used to the medicine and you need to make a change to get pain relief. It’s also possible that the condition causing your pain is getting worse or you have a new type of pain. You may need more medicine or a different kind of medicine to control your pain. Talk to your doctor or nurse.

Can you crush pills if you can’t swallow them?

Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Some medicines can be crushed and some cannot. For example, time-release medicines should not be crushed. Ask your doctor or nurse if the medicine comes in a liquid or can be given another way.

Posted from the link of JOCO for the benefits of the health care providers.

Joint Commission Publishes New Guide for Advancing Patient-Centered Care

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:15:46 -0500

A free monograph released today by The Joint Commission, entitled “Advancing Effective Communication, Cultural Competence, and Patient-and Family-Centered Care: A Roadmap for Hospitals,” provides recommendations to inspire hospitals to address unique patient needs and comply with new standards for patient-centered communication.

In August 2008, The Joint Commission, with funding from The Commonwealth Fund, began an initiative to advance the issues of effective communication, cultural competence, and patient- and family-centered care in hospitals. The project was directed by Paul Schyve, M.D., senior vice president, The Joint Commission, and Amy Wilson-Stronks, M.P.P., project director, Division of Quality Measurement and Research, and principal investigator for The Joint Commission study Hospitals, Language, and Culture. The focus of the project was to develop accreditation standards for the hospital program and a monograph to help hospitals better meet patient needs. The Joint Commission collaborated with the National Health Law Program to develop the Roadmap for Hospitals.

“We want to inspire hospitals to integrate effective communication, cultural competence, and patient- and family-centered care into their organizations,” says Dr. Schyve. “By giving hospitals this Roadmap, we are providing them with the methods to begin or improve upon their efforts to ensure that all patients receive the same high quality care.”

Effective communication, cultural competence, and patient-and family-centered care are not stand-alone initiatives. A hospital must embed these practices in the core activities of its system of care delivery to truly meet the needs of the patients, families, and communities served. The recommendations in the Roadmap for Hospitals do not encompass every aspect of these three areas, but represent key issues that hospitals should consider to meet the unique needs of each patient. Practice examples and recommendations address various issues including race, ethnicity, language, culture, health literacy, other communication barriers, mobility needs, and the concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients. The Joint Commission encourages hospitals to adopt a combination of the practices discussed and to use these examples as a foundation for creating processes, policies, and programs that are best suited for their organizations.

Many of the recommendations included in the Roadmap for Hospitals originated during the development of The Joint Commission’s new patient-centered communication standards. The patient-centered communication standards were approved in December 2009 and released to the field in January 2010. The standards will be published in the 2011 hospital accreditation manual. Joint Commission surveyors will evaluate compliance with the patient-centered communication standards beginning January 1, 2011; however, findings will not affect the accreditation decision at that time. The information collected by Joint Commission surveyors and staff during this pilot implementation phase will be used to prepare the field for full implementation by answering common implementation questions and concerns. Inclusion of the patient-centered communication standards in the accreditation decision is targeted for January 2012. The Roadmap for Hospitals includes example practices and “how to” information to help hospitals comply with the new standards.

Posted from the link of JOCO for the benefits of the health care providers.

Joint Commission Alert: Violence Rising at Health Care Facilities

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:10:21 -0500

A new Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert warns that health care facilities today are being confronted with steadily increasing rates of crime, including assault, rape and murder.

The Sentinel Event Alert urges greater attention to the issue of violence and to controlling access to facilities to protect patients, staff and visitors, noting that assault, rape and homicide are consistently in the top 10 types of serious events reported to The Joint Commission. The Alert cautions that the actual number of violent incidents is significantly under-reported and advises organizations to mandate the reporting of all real or perceived threats.

To prevent violence in health care facilities, The Joint Commission’s Sentinel Event Alert newsletter suggests that facilities take a series of 13 specific steps, including the following:

Evaluate the facility’s risk for violence examining the campus, reviewing crime rates and surveying employees about their perceptions of risk.
Take extra security precautions in the emergency department, especially if the facility is in an area with a high crime rate or gang activity. Precautions might include uniformed security guards, scanning people entering the building for weapons and inspecting bags.
Conduct thorough background checks of prospective employees and staff.
Report crime to law enforcement.

"Health care facilities should be places of healing, not harm. But, unfortunately, health care settings are not immune from the types of violence that are found in the other areas of our lives," says Mark R. Chassin, M.D., M.P.P., M.P.H., president, The Joint Commission. "The recommendations in this Alert give health care institutions and caregivers specific strategies to take action that will keep everyone safer."

In addition to the specific recommendations contained in the Alert, The Joint Commission urges hospitals to comply with the requirements described in its accreditation standards to prevent violence. The standards require accredited health care facilities to have a security plan as well as conduct violence risk assessments, develop strategies to prevent violence and have a response plan when a violent episode occurs. The Joint Commission’s standards also are clear that patients have a right to be free from neglect, exploitation, and verbal, mental, physical and sexual abuse.

The warning about violence in health care facilities is part of a series of Alerts issued by The Joint Commission. Much of the information and guidance provided in these Alerts is drawn from The Joint Commission’s Sentinel Event Database, one of the nation’s most comprehensive voluntary reporting systems for serious adverse events in health care. The database includes detailed information about both adverse events and their underlying causes. Previous Alerts have addressed maternal deaths, health care technology, anticoagulants, wrong-site surgery, medication mix-ups, health care-associated infections, and patient suicides, among others. The complete list and text of past issues of Sentinel Event Alert can be found on The Joint Commission Web site.

Posted from the link of JOCO for the benefits of the health care providers.

Joint Commission Releases Animated Patient Safety Video for General Public

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:55:29 -0500

To celebrate National Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 6-12, The Joint Commission is releasing the first in a series of animated Speak Up™ videos to encourage patients to speak up and be active participants in their health care.

Produced by The Joint Commission, these entertaining 60-second videos are intended as public service announcements and will air on The Joint Commission’s YouTube channel and in other venues. The cast of characters introduced in the videos encounter situations where they have to “speak up” in everyday life such as ordering items from a bakery or restaurant, or valet park- ing a car. The videos point out that you should be just as comfortable speaking up about your health care whether in a doctor’s office or at the hospital.

The Joint Commission’s award winning Speak Up program features brochures, posters and buttons on a variety of patient safety topics. The national program urges patients to take a role in preventing health care errors by becoming active, involved and informed participants on the health care team. The basic framework of the Speak Up campaign encourages patients to:

Speak up if you have questions or concerns. If you still don’t understand, ask again. It’s your body and you have a right to know.
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.
Educate yourself about your illness. Learn about the medical tests you get, and your treatment plan.
Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate (advisor or supporter).
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.
Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.

Since its launch in 2002, the Speak Up program has grown to include 16 campaign brochures and three posters, as well as Spanish language versions of all brochures.

Posted from the link of JOCO for the benefits of the health care providers.

Help Prevent Errors in Your Care

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:42:10 -0500

Everyone has a role in making health care safe. That includes doctors, health care executives, nurses and many health care technicians. Health care organizations all across the country are working to make health care safe. As a patient, you can make your care safer by being an active, involved and informed member of your health care team.

An Institute of Medicine report says that medical mistakes are a serious problem in the health care system. The IOM says that public awareness of the problem is an important step in making things better. The “Speak Up™” program is sponsored by The Joint Commission. They agree that patients should be involved in their own health care. These efforts to increase patient awareness and involvement are also supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

This program gives simple advice on how you can help make health care a good experience. Research shows that patients who take part in decisions about their own health care are more likely to get better faster. To help prevent health care mistakes, patients are urged to “Speak Up.”

Speak up if you have questions or concerns. If you still do not understand, ask again. It is your body and you have a right to know.

• Your health is very important. Do not worry about being embarrassed if you do not understand something that your doctor, nurse or other health care professional tells you. If you do not understand because you speak another language, ask for someone who speaks your language. You have the right to get free help from someone who speaks your language.

• Do not be afraid to ask about safety. If you are having surgery, ask the doctor to mark the area that is to be operated on.

• Do not be afraid to tell the nurse or the doctor if you think you are about to get the wrong medicine.

• Do not be afraid to tell a health care professional if you think he or she has confused you with another patient.

Pay attention to the care you get. Always make sure you are getting the right treatments and medicines by the right health care professionals. Do not assume anything.

• Tell your nurse or doctor if something does not seem right.

• Expect health care workers to introduce themselves. Look for their identification (ID) badges. A new mother should know the person who she hands her baby to. If you do not know who the person is, ask for their ID.

• Notice whether your caregivers have washed their hands. Hand washing is the most important way to prevent infections. Do not be afraid to remind a doctor or nurse to do this.

• Know what time of the day you normally get medicine. If you do not get it, tell your nurse or doctor.

• Make sure your nurse or doctor checks your ID. Make sure he or she checks your wristband and asks your name before he or she gives you your medicine or treatment.

Educate yourself about your illness. Learn about the medical tests you get, and your treatment plan.

• Ask your doctor about the special training and experience that qualifies him or her to treat your illness.

• Look for information about your condition. Good places to get that information are from your doctor, your library, support groups, and respected Web sites, like the Centers for DiseaseControl & Prevention (CDC) Web site.

• Write down important facts your doctor tells you. Ask your doctor if he or she has any written information you can keep.

• Read all medical forms and make sure you understand them before you sign anything. If you do not understand, ask your doctor or nurse to explain them.

• Make sure you know how to work any equipment that is being used in your care. If you use oxygen at home, do not smoke or let anyone smoke near you.

Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate (advisor or supporter).

• Your advocate can ask questions that you may not think about when you are stressed. Your advocate can also help remember answers to questions you have asked or write down information being discussed.

• Ask this person to stay with you, even overnight, when you are hospitalized. You may be able to rest better. Your advocate can help make sure you get the correct medicines and treatments.

• Your advocate should be someone who can communicate well and work cooperatively with medical staff for your best care.

• Make sure this person understands the kind of care you want and respects your decisions.

• Your advocate should know who your health care proxy decision-maker is; a proxy is a person you choose to sign a legal document so he or she can make decisions about your health care when you are unable to make your own decisions. Your advocate may also be your proxy under these circumstances. They should know this ahead of time.

• Go over the consents for treatment with your advocate and health care proxy, if your proxy is available, before you sign them. Make sure you all understand exactly what you are about to agree to.

• Make sure your advocate understands the type of care you will need when you get home. Your advocate should know what to look for if your condition is getting worse. He or she should also know who to call for help.

Know what medicines you take and why you take them. Medicine errors are the most common health care mistakes.

• Ask about why you should take the medicine. Ask for written information about it, including its brand and generic names. Also ask about the side effects of all medicines.

• If you do not recognize a medicine, double-check that it is for you. Ask about medicines that you are to take by mouth before you swallow them. Read the contents of the bags of intravenous (IV) fluids. If you are not well enough to do this, ask your advocate to do it.

• If you are given an IV, ask the nurse how long it should take for the liquid to run out. Tell the nurse if it does not seem to be dripping right (too fast or too slow).

• Whenever you get a new medicine, tell your doctors and nurses about allergies you have, or negative reactions you have had to other medicines.

• If you are taking a lot of medicines, be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to take those medicines together. Do the same thing with vitamins, herbs and over-the-counter drugs.

• Make sure you can read the handwriting on prescriptions written by your doctor. If you cannot read it, the pharmacist may not be able to either. Ask somebody at the doctor’s office to print the prescription, if necessary.

• Carry an up-to-date list of the medicines you are taking in your purse or wallet. Write down how much you take and when you take it. Go over the list with your doctor and other caregivers.

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.

• Ask about the health care organization’s experience in taking care of people with your type of illness. How often do they perform the procedure you need? What special care do they provide to help patients get well?

• If you have more than one hospital to choose from, ask your doctor which one has the best care for your condition.

• Before you leave the hospital or other facility, ask about follow-up care and make sure that you understand all the instructions.

• Go to Quality Check at www.qualitycheck.org to find out whether your hospital or other health care organization is “accredited.” Accredited means that the hospital or healthcare organization works by rules that make sure that patient safety and quality standards are followed.

Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.

• You and your doctor should agree on exactly what will be done during each step of your care.

• Know who will be taking care of you. Know how long the treatment will last. Know how you should feel.

• Understand that more tests or medications may not always be better for you. Ask your doctor how a new test or medication will help.

• Keep copies of your medical records from previous hospital stays and share them with your health care team. This will give them better information about your health history.

• Do not be afraid to ask for a second opinion. If you are unsure about the best treatment for your illness, talk with one or two additional doctors. The more information you have about all the kinds of treatment available to you, the better you will feel about the decisions made.

• Ask your doctor to recommend a support group you can join to help deal with your condition. People in these groups may help you prepare for the days and weeks ahead. They may be able to tell you what to expect and what worked best for them.

• Talk to your doctor and your family about your wishes regarding resuscitation and other life-saving actions.

Posted from the link of JOCO for the benefits of the health care providers.

Dialysis: Five ways to be active in your care at the hospital

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:20:35 -0500

As a dialysis patient, you have a routine. You go to a dialysis center for dialysis or perform your own dialysis at home. You are actively involved in the daily care of your condition. This should not change when you go to the hospital. You will need to work closely with your hospital caregivers to get the best care. Speak up and let your caregivers know exactly what you need.

Before you go to the hospital

Talk to your kidney doctor and your dialysis care team. Ask them to send a rounding sheet to the hospital. The rounding sheet provides details about your dialysis.
Take the name and phone number of your dialysis center with you to the hospital. Find out which hospitals in your area perform dialysis. If you perform your own dialysis, make sure the hospital has trained staff to help with peritoneal dialysis.
Tell your family your wishes for life support. Ask the dialysis social worker what forms you need to fill out to make your wishes known. Take the forms with you to the hospital. Ask that a copy be put in your chart.
Ask a family member or friend to be your advocate while you are in the hospital. An advocate can ask questions that you may not think about or be able to ask.

Here are five things you can do to be active in your care while you are in the hospital.

1. Find out how your dialysis will be managed

Your regular dialysis care team should talk with your doctors, nurses and other caregivers in the hospital about how your dialysis will be managed.

Do not be afraid to remind everyone that you are a dialysis patient.
Always wear a medical ID that alerts people that you are on dialysis. You may need to take it off for treatment or a test. Remember to put it back on.
Write down questions to ask your doctors and nurses.
Discuss any concerns about your dialysis while you are in the hospital with your regular kidney doctor.
Keep a log of your blood pressure results. Discuss the results with your doctor.
Know your usual hemoglobin level. Ask your doctor what will happen if your hemoglobin is low.
Tell caregivers immediately if something does not seem right. They need to know if you have headaches, chest pain, shortness of breath or swelling.
Ask a lot of questions if you have dialysis in the hospital. How will they perform dialysis? When will it be scheduled? Will it affect your condition? They should follow the same routine as your dialysis center, unless your condition changes, such as fluid in your lungs.
If you perform your own dialysis, find out if you can continue to do it yourself in the hospital. If not, ask how it will be done.

2. Avoid infection and protect your access

Your access is your lifeline. Guard your access site from infection and misuse.

Watch to see that caregivers wash their hands. Do not be afraid to speak up if they do not.
Ask visitors to wash their hands. Wash your own hands.
Do not be afraid to remind caregivers to wear clean gloves and a mask when they are working near your access.
Clean your access site every day. If you cannot do this, your nurse can do it for you. Help the nurse by explaining how you clean it.
Do not let anyone use your access for anything other than dialysis. It may look like a good vein to use for an IV or an injection, but this can destroy your access.
Do not let anyone take your blood pressure on your access arm.
If you have a temporary catheter, you must use a protective cover when you take a shower. Ask your nurse for one.
Tell your nurse immediately if the access area is sore, swollen, red or feels hot. This could be a sign of infection.
If you feel a staff member is not taking the right precautions, politely share your concerns with the head nurse or supervisor.

In addition, make sure you get a flu shot every year and that your pneumonia shot is current.

3. Know what will happen with your diet

Your diet is very important to your health, even more so when you are in the hospital. Eating the right foods and drinking the right amount of liquids will help you recover more quickly.

Ask to speak to the hospital dietitian. Find out what you will be eating and drinking. Discuss substitutes for foods you are allergic to or dislike.
If you take phosphate binders every time you eat, ask your nurse to bring these medicines with your food. Do not eat if you do not have your phosphate binders.
Know what blood tests are being done. It is important to know what your lab results are for calcium, phosphorus and protein. These can be affected by what you eat.
Some peritoneal dialysis patients may be switched to hemodialysis. Ask the dietitian how this will change what you eat and drink.

4. Ask what will happen with your medicines

People on dialysis can be affected by new medicines. Speak up if you have had allergies to medicines or other problems with medicines in the past.

Give your doctor a list of your medicines or take your medicines with you to the hospital. Include prescriptions, over-the-counter and herbal medicines. List the medicine names, doses and the time you usually take them.
Ask if the medicine schedule you follow at home will be the same in the hospital.
Make sure your kidney doctor and your doctor in the hospital talk to each other about the timing of your medicines with your dialysis. Many medicines are removed or affected by dialysis.
Ask questions about medicines you are given. What are the medicines? Why do you need them? How should they be given? Are they being given as directed? Are you being given the correct dose for someone on dialysis?
Speak up if a medicine looks different than the one you usually take.
Keep a log of the medicines you are given in the hospital.

5. Before leaving the hospital, find out what will happen when you go home

Ask your doctor about your follow-up care. Make sure that you and your advocate understand the instructions.
Let the staff at your dialysis center know when you will be leaving the hospital.
Ask that your discharge orders, lists of medicines and the summary of your care be sent to your dialysis center. This should include test results and blood cultures.
Find out when you can resume your regular dialysis treatments.
Let the staff at your dialysis center know if there are any changes in your wishes for life support.

Posted from the link of JOCO for the benefits of the hospitals.