49th MDG joins nationwide effort to promote patient safety awareness Published March 4, 2011 By the 49th Medical Group HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M -- In a nationwide effort to empower patients and strengthen teamwork between patients, families and their healthcare providers, the 49th Medical Group is joining other leading healthcare organizations across the country and around the world in celebration of Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 6 through 12, sponsored by the National Patient Safety Foundation. This year's theme, "Are You In? Commit to Safe Health Care," focuses on involving all participants in the healthcare process, from patient to provider. "Improving patient safety means that everyone -- from the patient to their healthcare providers -- must be involved, informed and invested in safe care. Engaging each participant in the process is vital to giving patients the best care and making healthcare safe, for all," said Diane Pinakiewicz, president of the National Patient Safety Foundation. The 49th MDG has already committed to being involved through knowing patients' health histories and listening to and answering their questions and concerns. The clinic is also committed to remaining informed through continuing education and a virtual medical library which rivals that of any university; and invested by taking the time to review all patients' medications, while referring them to the appropriate specialists when needed. During Patient Safety Awareness Week, these and other patient safety initiatives will be celebrated and reinforced throughout the facility. Patients have a different role to fill in patient safety, but they are a key part of the team. Patients and family member can be involved, informed and invested to improve safety in healthcare. Being involved means asking questions, insisting on answers and making sure healthcare providers know all the information they need to correctly diagnose and treat health care problems. When patients pick-up medicine from any pharmacy, they should read the label and make sure it has the correct name, medicine name and the instructions which were discussed with their healthcare provider. Patients should be informed. This could include taking educational classes about health issues when given the opportunity. Patients should know their blood sugar level if they have diabetes or their blood pressure readings at home if they have high blood pressure. Know what drugs to take and why. Patients should know what they're allergic to and what kind of reactions they have. Do not depend on the healthcare professionals to know this. Be invested. Keep a list of all medications and take it to all healthcare visits. If the patient gets medicine from more than one healthcare provider, bring all of the medicine bottles to the primary care manager appointment. Keep medicines in the original bottle with the label on it, so drugs do not get mixed up. Ask when and how the results of tests or procedures will come back, be it in person, by phone or by mail. Do not assume the results are normal. If results don't come back by the time they were promised, contact the primary healthcare provider. Another way to be involved, informed and invested is to let the clinic know when there are patient safety concerns. Concerns can be brought to the attention of Claudia Enriquez, 49th MDG patient safety manager, at (575) 572-7320 or e-mail her at claudia.enriquez.ctr@holloman.af.mil. The 49th MDG is totally committed to patient safety and following the steps listed above will help patients become active members of their healthcare team as well. Only as a team can the clinic keep all patients safe and provide the best care anywhere which is what the upcoming Patient Safety Awareness Week celebrates.