Make sure hospital stay doesn’t leave you sicker

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

Going to the hospital isn’t supposed to make you sicker. But for an alarmingly high number of Americans, it does.

Medical errors occur during as many as one of every three hospital stays, and about 7 percent of those patients die or are permanently harmed as a result, according to a study published in the journal Health Affairs.

Health-care facilities bear the bulk of the responsibility for preventing hospital-acquired infections, medication mix-ups and other errors by adhering to evidence-based best practices.

The federal government has stepped up its efforts to prevent errors by refusing to reimburse hospitals for the extra costs associated with certain hospital-acquired conditions and by making public individual hospitals’ rates of these conditions. In addition, the Obama administration announced this month it is working with hospitals and private insurers on a new initiative that aims to cut preventable medical errors by 40 percent over the next three years.

There are also things patients can do to reduce their risk of being the victim a medical error. Here are a few tips from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, as well as local and national patient safety groups:

† Bring with you to the hospital a list of medications you’re taking, including dietary supplements, and also a list of your allergies. Knowing your medical history should make it less likely that a doctor will prescribe you a drug that could harm you. It’s also a good idea to have hospital staff check your ID bracelet before giving you medication or other treatments.

† Ask all health-care workers who have direct contact with you if they’ve washed their hands. Hand-washing can prevent the spread of infections. A recent study found that workers who were asked whether they washed their hands did so more often and also used more soap. Patients should also ask their visitors to wash their hands and to not place purses, jackets or other items on the hospital bed, as that can spread germs as well.

† If you’re going to the hospital for an elective procedure, ask how often it has been performed at that hospital and by your doctor. Surgical errors tend to be less common in medical centers with more experienced staff.

† Bring an advocate. Errors are most common at three key times during your hospital stay: when you’re admitted, when there’s a shift change and when you’re discharged, said Lenore Janecek, of the Chicago-based nonprofit Save the Patient. “You really need to have somebody with you at those very important times,” she said. “Take a steno pad, and have them write down exactly what occurred.” A relative or friend or caregiver who knows your medical history can also ask questions about your care if you’re unable to.

† Use websites such as Medicare’s Hospital Compare ­(www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov), the Joint Commission’s Quality Check (www.qualitycheck.org) and the Illinois Department of Public Health’s hospital report card (www.healthcarereportcard.illinois.gov) to research hospitals. These sites provide a treasure trove of information, not just on hospital-acquired conditions but also on more basic measures of quality of care.