Simple Steps to Prevent MEDICAL ERRORS.

• Position: Brief Article

Patients can work with their doctors and other caregivers to prevent medical errors--a widely reported national problem--and to ensure a safe and effective health care experience, says Paul Sharek, the physician responsible for patient safety at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford (Calif.) University. "First and foremost, patients have a right to know the details of their care so they and their families can take an active role in making sure care is as good as it can be." He recommends patients and their families keep the following points in mind whenever they visit a health professional:

* Speak up if you have questions or concerns. It is important to know when to take medicines and what steps need to be taken at home to facilitate a speedy recovery during illness. Sharek suggests communication can be most effective if you pick a doctor you feel comfortable talking with, confiding in, and asking questions of. Often, it's a good idea to bring a family member or friend to the clinic visit. This is especially important for those with a language barrier or cognitive defect, such as Alzheimer's disease, but it is recommended for almost anyone else as well. "Even savvy people can have difficulty absorbing medical instructions. Persons not feeling well often aren't the most effective listeners. A friend can take notes and remind the patient later what is needed."

* Know your medications and how to use them. Keep a list of all your medications. Many effective medications become dangerous in combination with other drugs. Sharek emphasizes that, if patients are seeing more than one caregiver--as is increasingly the case--it is important to tell each of them all medications that are being taken. One easy way to do this is to "brown bag" your meds by bringing a prescription bottle of everything you take to your doctor's appointment. This way, a new physician can be sure to prescribe a drug that will work well with an...