Patient Safety

The Speak Up program sponsored by the Joint Commission encourages patients to become active, involved, and informed participants on the health care team. Wythe County Community Hospital supports such efforts to increase consumer awareness and involvement.
 

An Important Message

To help prevent health care errors, the Speak Up program urges patients to

• Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don't understand, ask again. It's your body and you have a right to know. 
• Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you're getting the right treatments and medications by the right health care professionals. Don't assume anything. 
• Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing, and your treatment plan. 
• Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate. 
• Know what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common health care errors. 
• Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that has undergone a rigorous on-site evaluation against established state-of-the-art quality and safety standards, such as that provided by JCAHO. 
• Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team. 

(taken from Joint Commission Perspectives - May 2002 issue)
 

For more information on patient safety at WCCH

Contact the Department of Clinical Effectiveness and Patient Safety, at (276) 228-0478.

Safety or quality of care concerns may be reported to the Joint Commission by calling 800-994-6610.

The Speak Up brochure can be downloaded from the Joint Commission's web site.