5 Million Lives and SPEAK UP campaigns work together
How you can help
Both the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's (IHI) 5 Million Lives campaign and the Joint Commission SPEAK UP campaign are working toward the same goal – patient safety. Buffalo Hospital has teams working on developing and continuing initiatives outlined in the 5 Million Lives campaign. We are also encouraging patients and family members to SPEAK UP concerning their care in the hospital.
There are many things a patient or caregiver—an integral part of the care team—can do to stay safe during a hospital stay, including:
Complete an advance health care directive, which is a legal document that outlines your wishes so your family members and physicians can honor them
Learn about your treatment plan and know the signs and symptoms of common complications for someone with your condition.
Ask questions about your treatment, medications or any other part of your care that you do not completely understand.
Fill out a "universal medication form" and bring it with you to the hospital to prevent harmful interactions upon treatment. Download and print your own My Medicine List from the Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety website.
Don't be afraid to ask a caregiver to wash his or her hands or to put on gloves before performing any type of patient care.
SPEAK UP to prevent errors in your care
Here's some simple advice on how you, as a patient, can make your care a positive experience.
Openly share your health history with your caregiver. This includes the medications you take, any operations you've had, or any allergeries you may have. The more your caregiver knows, the more successful your care plan and recovery will be.
Don't recognize a medication? Ask the caregiver to check it before you accept it.
Don't understand something about your care? If you have questions or concerns about your condition or treatment options, please be sure to ask.
Help reduce the risk of infection. Remind caregivers to wash their hands before they care for you. Wash your own hands and keep any wounds clean and dry.
Know how to care for yourself at home. Make sure your partner in care learns what to do, too.
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