Patient Safety First
Crozer Health has committed to a continuous improvement approach to ensuring safe, effective and compassionate care for every patient. We focus on ensuring the best, most effective treatment, coupled with constant attention to identifying and preventing potential safety problems.
One way we put safety first is our dedicated Quality and Patient Safety Team. The team borrowed the concept of a Safety Huddle from the airline and nuclear power industries. At Crozer Health , units start each day with a Safety Huddle that includes department staff and leader.
Daily Check-Ins for Safe
Crozer Health 's focus on safety carries through to the leadership level at each Crozer Health hospital. Every hospital completes a Daily Check-in for Safety, with a manager or appointed representative from almost every department and unit, led by a senior hospital administrator.
A greater focus on safety is one more example of the greater care provided by the professionals of Crozer Health .
What Every Patient Can Do
Effective and safe care is what every patient expects and every medical professional strives for. Patients have an important role in ensuring that their care is safe. A few key steps:
- Understand your main medical problem, how it will be treated and what to expect during and after treatment. Ask your doctor and/or nurse as many questions as you need to make sure you fully understand. Have a friend of family member with you to help write down information.
- Make sure your doctor or nurse knows every medication you take (including prescription drugs, all over-the-counter medicines and any vitamins or supplements). Keep a list with the name and dose of each. Make sure they know about any allergies or medication reactions you have had.
- If you are getting a new medicine, write down its name, dose and how often you will get it. Ask if you are receiving any “high alert” medicines. These are medications that can cause harm if not given correctly – such as blood thinners, insulin and some pain medications.
- In the hospital, check your ID bracelet to make sure all information is correct; make sure you wear it at all times during your stay; make sure that staff checks it before any procedure, test or medication.
- If you will get procedures or tests in the hospital, note what they are and how often you can expect them to take place.
- If you will be using equipment in the hospital, ask what it’s for and know how it sounds in normal operation.
- If you are having surgery, have the surgeon mark the site of the operation on your body before you have anesthesia.
- During your stay, question anything that seems different than what you were told to expect – or anything that makes you uncomfortable.
- Remind family, friends and healthcare providers to wash their hands – when they enter and leave your room; before and after touching you; before and after using gloves; and after visiting the restroom.
Contact Us
If you have questions about patient safety, please call 610-338-8261.