“Patient safety is an integral part of the care we provide and engrained within our hospital culture,” said Hospital CEO Tom Barry. “We welcome this opportunity to celebrate Patient Safety Awareness Week in collaboration with the Indiana Hospital Association with our patients, our staff and our community.”
PMH offers the following tips to help patients stay safe and comfortable during their hospital stay:
- Speak up. You must trust your health care provider, but remember communication is a two-way street. If you have a question or concern about your care, ask your doctor.
- Keep your hands clean. Hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection. Keep your hands clean and make sure providers clean their hands before touching you.
- Educate yourself. Unfortunately, it’s possible to get an infection in the hospital while being treated for something else. Know the signs and symptoms of infection, and let your health care provider know if you experience them.
- Participate in treatment decisions. Your health care provider has your best interests in mind, but you must be an active participant in your own care. Discuss all treatment options so you can make an informed decision together.
“Patient safety is everyone’s responsibility, from physicians and nurses to patients and visitors,” Barry said. “We must all work together to ensure our patients receive the best, and safest care.”
For more information about Patient Safety Awareness Week, go to www.unitedforpatientsafety.org.
About Pulaski Memorial Hospital
Pulaski Memorial Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital in Winamac, Indiana. It opened in 1963, and has been nationally recognized as a Top 20 Critical Hospital. Pulaski Memorial Hospital strives to deliver clinical excellence, combined with unmatched service in a comforting atmosphere with individualized attention.