Yale-New Haven Hospital’s goal is to provide excellent, safe patient care. We believe it is important for you and your family to be involved in your own care and safety. Below are some tips to help you participate in your care and safety in the hospital.

Communication

One of the most important things you can do is to speak up and ask questions, especially if you are unclear, unsure or confused. Feel free to ask who people are, what they are doing and where you are going.

You might want to ask a family member or friend to help you ask questions and understand what doctors, nurses and others say to you. Pay attention to your tests, treatments and medications. Speak up if something does not seem right to you.

If you have questions or concerns about your care or safety, talk to your nurse, the patient service manager or your doctor. If you still have concerns, call the hospital’s patient relations department, 203-688-3430.

When you go home, make sure you are clear about your written discharge instructions, including medicines and need for a follow-up visit. Don’t worry if you need to ask someone to repeat the instructions. Be sure you are given a phone number to call if you have questions after you go home.

Translation services are available any time of day or night, at no cost to you.

Minimizing infections

Your nurses, doctors and other healthcare providers — as well as family members and visitors — should wash their hands before they touch you. Feel free to remind them.

Ask family members and friends who have a cold, the flu or symptoms of an infection (such as fever, rash, cough, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) not to visit. Limit visits from children under 12.

“Isolation precautions” are to protect you, other patients, staff and visitors. Gloves, gowns and masks are sometimes worn, depending on the illness. If you don’t understand why you are on precautions, please ask. Remind your visitors that they too must follow the precautions listed on the sign outside your room to protect you and themselves during their visit.

Please get flu and pneumonia vaccines when they are offered.

Reducing medication errors

Ask your nurse about your medicines — what they are, what they do, when they are given and their possible side effects. Get to know their color, size and dose. Let your nurse know if your medicines are late, look different or if you have any reactions to them.

Make sure your doctor or nurse knows if you have any allergies or have had reactions to drugs before. If you have an allergy, please be sure the staff has given you a red allergy bracelet.

Make sure to tell your doctor and nurse about other drugs you are taking (including vitamins, herbal remedies or over-the-counter medicine).

Bring in a list (including dosage) of all medications you were taking at home. Do not take any medicines you brought from home, unless your doctor or hospital staff has asked you to. If possible, ask a friend or family member to take your medicines back home.

Patient identification

When you are admitted, you will have a patient identification bracelet placed on your wrist. This bracelet includes your name and medical record number. Remind all caregivers to look at your identification bracelet before giving medication, drawing blood or performing a procedure. Please do not remove this bracelet.

Staff identification

All hospital employees are required to wear photo identification badges. Be sure all your caregivers have a hospital or medical school I.D. with their picture on it.

Avoiding treatment errors

Find out what is planned for you each day so you can ask questions about tests or treatments that seem unusual.

It may be helpful to ask a family member or friend to listen with you when staff explains a diagnosis, treatment, test result or discharge plan.

Write down questions you have for physicians about your procedure, treatment and medications (space is provided on pages 19-20).

If you are visiting a family member and notice any unusual level of confusion, talk with the nursing staff about safety options.

Falls

• Always ask for help from the nursing staff if you need to get out of bed or use the bathroom, especially at night.
• Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help. Try to call for help before your need becomes urgent.
• Keep your call-button near you.
• Make sure there is enough light to see, and keep your eyeglasses near you.
• Never climb over bed rails.
• Wear slippers with rubber soles to prevent slipping.
• Let a staff person know about any fluids or objects on the floor that could cause a fall.

“Ruby Slipper” program

YNHH has a program in which patients who are at risk for falling wear red slipper socks. Ask your nurse for more information.

Other safety tips

Dentures, hearing aids and glasses are the most commonly lost items in hospitals. Please make sure they are not left on food trays or in bed linens. Remember where you put them. When not in use, they should be stored in a “belongings box” or container with your name on it.

Make sure you know how to use the nurse call-button on your bed. There are emergency cords in all showers and bathrooms.

Your doctor or nurse should approve all food from home and restaurants.

No one but staff should touch medical equipment.

Ask staff to explain what the equipment does, and what the alarms mean. Call your nurse if an alarm sounds.