Talking to your doctor
Three questions every patient should ask.
Article Author: Johnny Woodhouse
Article Date:
When it comes to your body, you are the expert. You're an important part of your health care team, and you can make your care safer by speaking up. The National Patient Safety Foundation encourages patients and family members to communicate with their health care providers.
As a patient, it's OK to inquire about any signs and symptoms you should be aware of or ask to have your treatment options thoroughly explained. Patients should know that bringing a family member or friend to health care appointments is not only OK but recommended. Patients should also follow up with their provider for test results. Getting your results, no matter how they're reported, is essential.
Speaking up for your health
The goal of any patient safety program is to help patients and their advocates become active in their care," said Michael Waters, MD, a family physician with Baptist Primary Care. "Speak up if you don't understand something your doctor says."
Added Ellen Light, vice president of Risk Management and Patient Safety for Baptist Health: “If we don’t know about a problem, we can’t fix it. Patients and families are an important part of the care team, and we encourage them to speak up if they have potential safety concerns so we can prevent them from recurring and avoid harm.”
Patient safety is our priority
At Baptist Health, patients and families can report patient safety issues to the Patient Safety Hotline: 904.202.SAFE (7233).
