A hospital is driven by the goal of saving lives. It can range in size and service from a small unit that provides treatment for general care and low risk of large specialized centers offering dramatic and experimental therapies. It may be limited in the choice of a hospital by factors beyond your control, including insurance coverage, the affiliate hospital of your doctor, and the type of care available.
Before you enter a hospital, you should be aware of the possible dangers. Well-known hospital risks are unnecessary operations, unexpected reactions, harmful or even fatal errors, and hospital borne infections. The Institute of Medicine recently identified three areas in which the health system in general, and hospitals and their staff, in particular, often fall short: the use of unnecessary or inappropriate care (too many antibiotics), underused of effective treatments (too few vaccinations and Pap smears), and shortcomings in terms of technical and interpersonal skills. The biggest single danger that a hospital presents is infection, which is largely preventable.
What can lay people make to ensure the correct and safe care while in the hospital? The following guidelines should be considered.
If you have a choice of hospitals, information about their accreditation status. Hospitals are inspected to ensure they are in compliance with federal regulations. The policies implemented in 1989 requiring the release of information on demand for state health services with regard to mortality rates at the hospital, its accreditation status, and its main deficiencies.
Before you check into a hospital, you need to decide on your accommodations. Do you want to pay extra for a single room? Want a nonsmoker for a roommate? You need a special diet? You need a place to store the medicine in the refrigerator? If anyone will be staying with you, you will need a crib? You should try to avoid going on a weekend, when some procedures are done. When you get to your room, you should talk immediately if it is unacceptable.
You should be familiar with your rights as a patient. Hospitals should provide an information booklet which includes a patient's Bill of Rights. The booklet will inform you that you have the right to attentive and respectful care; information on tests, drugs and procedures; dignity; courtesy; respect; and the ability to make decisions, even when they leave the hospital.
You should make informed decisions. Before authorizing any procedure, patients should be informed about their medical condition, treatment options, expected risks, prognosis of the condition, and the name of the person responsible of the treatment. This is called informed consent. The only times hospitals are not required to obtain informed consent are cases of emergency life threatening, unconscious patients when no relatives, and / or compliance with the law or a court order, such as the 'examination of sexually transmitted diseases. If you are asked to sign a consent form, you should read first. If you want more information, you should ask before signing. If you are skeptical, you have the right to publish sets the procedure and discuss with your doctor.
Authorization of a medical procedure can be given non-verbal, as a look at the office of a doctor for treatment, cooperation during the administering tests, or failure to object when consent can be easily rejected. This is called implied consent.
you need to weigh the risks of drug therapy, X-ray examinations and laboratory tests with their expected benefits. When the tests or treatments are ordered, you should ask their purpose, possible risks and possible actions, if a test finds something wrong. For example, injection or ingestion of x-ray dye makes the structures more visible body and greatly facilitates the physician's ability to make a correct diagnosis. However, dyes can cause an allergic reaction ranging from a skin rash to circulatory collapse and death. Finally, you must inquire about prescribed medications. You should avoid taking drugs, including pain and sleep medication, unless you do not feel sure of their benefits and are aware of their risks.
When planning for surgery, prepare for anesthesia. In rare cases general anesthesia can cause brain damage and death. One of the causes of these catastrophes is vomiting while unconscious. To reduce the risk, refuse any food or drink that can be offered by mistake in the 8 hours before surgery.
You need to know who is responsible for its care and record the number of the office and when you can expect a visit. If your doctor is transferring your care to someone else, you need to know who it is. If your doctor is not available and you do not know what is happening, you can ask for the nurse in charge of your case.
You should keep a daily log of procedures, medications, and doctor visits. When you get your bill, compare each element with the written record. Insist on an itemized bill.
You should stay active within the limits of your medical problem. Many functions of the body begin to suffer a few days of inactivity. Moving, walking, bending, and contracting muscles help clear the body fluids, reduce the risk of infections (especially in the lungs), and deal with the stress of hospital procedures in addition to depression and hospitalization malaise.
You should be on alert. During your stay, you can keep asking questions until you know all you need to know. According to some experts, the greatest improvement in health care has not been technological advances; It 'been patients asking questions. Other questions, the fewer mistakes and more patients have power in the doctor-patient relationship
Selection of a health professional
The choice of a doctor for general health care is a important and necessary duty. Only physicians are discussed here, but this information is true for the selection of all health care practitioners. You need to select one that will listen carefully to your problems and diagnose accurately. At the same time, you need a doctor who can move through the maze of modern medical technology and specialists.
For most people, good health care is to have a primary care physician, a professional who assists you as you take responsibility for your overall health and heads when specialized care is necessary. The primary care physician should be familiar with your complete medical history, as well as your home, work, and other environments. You are better understood when they are ill, when you see your doctor even during periods of wellness. Find a primary care physician, however, it can be difficult. Of the 700,000 physicians in the United States, only 0,000 (less than 30%) are in primary care.
For adults, the primary care physicians are usually family practitioners, once called "general practitioners," and internists, internal medicine specialists. Pediatricians often serve as primary care physicians for children. Obstetricians and gynecologists, who specialize in pregnancy, childbirth, and diseases of the female reproductive system, often serve as primary care to women. In some places, general surgeons may offer primary care in addition to surgery they perform. Some osteopathic physicians also practice family medicine. A doctor of osteopathy (DO) emphasizes manipulation of the body to treat the symptoms.
There are several sources of information to get the names of doctors in your area:
local and state medical societies can identify medical specialty and tell you the basic credentials of a doctor. You should check out the affiliate hospital doctor and make sure that the hospital is accredited. Another sign of standing is the kind of society in which the doctor has membership. The qualifications of a surgeon, for example, are enhanced by a fellowship in the American College of Surgeons (abbreviated as FACS after the surgeon's name). A scholarship to study in internist American College of Physicians is abbreviated F ACP. Membership in academies indicates particular interest of a doctor.
All physicians board certified in the United States are listed in the American Medical Directory published by the American Medical Association and is available in major bookstores. About a quarter of practicing physicians in the US are not board certified. This may mean that a doctor failed the exam, never completed training, or is incompetent. It could also mean that the doctor simply has not taken the exam.
The American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) publishes the Compendium of Certified Medical Specialties, that lists physicians by name, specialty and location. Pharmacists may be asked to advise the names.
The hospitals can give you names of doctors of staff who also practice in the community.
Local medical schools can identify faculty members who also practice privately.
Many colleges and universities have health centers that maintain a list of the student's referral doctors.
Friends may have recommendations, but it should be possible for your doctor's opinion may be different.
Once identified a leading candidate, you can make an appointment. You need to check with the office staff about office hours, the availability of emergency care at night or on weekends, the doctors backup, the procedures for requests for advice, hospital affiliation, and Payment and procedure.You insurance should schedule your first visit, while in good health. Once you have seen your doctor, consider the following: Did the doctor seem to be listening to you? Were your questions answered? It was a medical history taken? Have you been informed of the possible side effects of medications or tests? It has been shown respect for your need for privacy? Was the doctor open to the suggestion of a second opinion?
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