Patient safety is one of the most important aspects of health care. Dean Health Plan (DHP) is committed to giving you information that will help you take an active role in obtaining the safest care possible.
A recent report by the Institute of Medicine suggests that safe medicine practices help improve patient safety and promote better health. Patient safety groups recommend using specific initiatives to improve medicine safety. For example, the Leapfrog Group advocates the use of computerized physician order entry (CPOE) by hospitals to reduce medicine errors. Here are some easy steps you can take to help avoid medicine errors:
What are you taking? Tell your health care provider about all medications you take. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.
Do you have medicine allergies or reactions? Tell your health care provider about allergies or adverse reactions you have had to medicines.
Can you read it? When your doctor writes you a prescription, be sure you can read it. If you can't read your doctor’s handwriting, your pharmacist might not be able to either.
What does it do? Ask your doctor and your pharmacist for information about your medicines in terms you can understand.
Is this the right one? When picking up your medicine, confirm that the prescription you receive is what your doctor prescribed.
How do I take it? If you have questions about the directions for taking any medicine, ask your pharmacist or health care provider.
These organizations have additional medicine safety information:
In our continuing effort to give you valuable health care information, DHP will offer you more suggestions and practical approaches for improving your safety during the coming months.
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