Safety: the “S” in our TRAITS
At Spectrum Health Lakeland, providing for the safety of our patients is one of our core values. In our quest to be southwest Michigan's healthcare leader, we provide leading-edge medical services, highly specialized healthcare professionals, quality care, and one of the highest levels of patient safety in this region.
Lakeland's hospitals are certified by the Joint Commission. The standards and performance expectations set by the Joint Commission evaluate if an organization does the right things for its patients and does them well. Lakeland has surpassed the national average for all 15 indicators recommended by the Joint Commission to provide high-quality care for patients admitted to our hospitals for pneumonia, congestive heart failure and heart attack.
Be a Partner in Your Safety
To improve patient safety, Lakeland encourages patients and their family members to be active participants in their care. Research has shown that patients who take part in decisions about their healthcare are more likely to have better outcomes. You, as the patient, play a vital role in your safety by becoming an active, involved and informed member of your healthcare team.
Lakeland recommends that you consider the following points in guiding your own care:
- Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don't understand, ask again. It's your body and you have the right to know. Your health is too important to worry about being embarrassed if you don't understand something that your physician, nurse or other healthcare professional tells you.
- Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you're getting the right treatments and medications by the right healthcare professionals. Don't assume anything. Tell your nurse or physician if something doesn't seem right.
- Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing, and your treatment plan.
- Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate, a team member with you. Your advocate can ask questions that you may not think of while you are under stress.
- Know what medications you take and why you take them. Tell your physicians and nurses if you are taking any medications, vitamins, herbal supplements and over-the-counter drugs in addition to what has been prescribed during your hospital stay. Medication errors are the most common healthcare mistakes.
- Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of healthcare organization that has undergone a rigorous on-site evaluation against established, state-of-the-art quality and safety standards, such as that provided by Joint Commission. Go to "Quality Check" at www.jcaho.org to find out whether your hospital or other healthcare organization is accredited, as Lakeland is.
- Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the healthcare team. You and your physician should agree on exactly what will be done during each step of your care.
If you have questions about the information presented here or want to know more about how to be a partner in your safe care, talk to your physician or a member of your care team.