Your Awareness when in a Hospital

I suspect handwriting is not a class many doctors took in medical school. The catch is if you can not understand what your doctor wrote on the prescription he gave you, the pharmacist who fills your prescription may not read the medication right either and give you the wrong medication. Make sure you can understand what your doctor prescribes and that the pharmacist knows what the medication is for when he fills your prescription. Many medicines have similar names but do a lot different things in your body.  Be sure you get what you should have even in the hospital as even doctors can make errors not to mention nurses and orderlies.

Besides knowing you are getting the right medicine, know how it should work. Especially, know the symptoms that the medication is not working correctly especially in the hospital. All hospitals are short staffed so hospital staff can not watch you all the time. You have to tell staff if something is wrong.  And know how much of each medication and how often you should get the dose. Again hospital staff makes errors so it is up to you to make sure you are not given too much medication.

Regarding the surgery you need, see if you can go to a hospital that has done many of the procedures you need.  While most hospitals do many appendix removals, not many hospitals do liver transplants. The more experienced the surgical team, the better chance you have of a successful surgery.

And, make sure everyone involved in your hospital care knows why you are in the hospital. Patients have been taken to the operating room for minor leg surgery and came out without an arm. This does not happen often but often enough that you should be as sure as you can that you get the care you came for. If you want, have one of your health care professionals mark with a marker where your surgery should be done on your body. Laugh! You will be happier looking stupid than losing an arm. Finally, have someone with you on the day of surgery whom you trust.  They can be sure you do not get medication that can harm you or surgery you do not need or want. It is also nice to awaken to the smiling face of a loved one after surgery.

Of course, your care is not complete until you heal which probably means home recovery.  Know in detail what care you should have at home.  Know what you should avoid doing and when you can again do that activity.  And, follow to the letter the care plan your doctor gives you.  Take your medications correctly.  Clean any wounds thoroughly.  Infection is easy to avoid but can be a killer to try to treat.