Recommendations For Prevention Of Medical Errors

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In today’s modern world the health care industry has high technologies and sophisticated equipments that are somewhat dependent on human beings for their output. This shows just how well we have accepted this developments and technologies and the relevant roles they play in our health care industry. This are the human and computer technology relationships formed. Sometimes we even depend on machines to save our lives in HDU or ICU etc showing how complex our systems are. It is therefore very important for these systems to remain within the performance boundaries. These are all complex technologies and as a result medical errors might occur when some of these complex operations come into contact with systems failures.

The following are some of the recommendations for preventing medical errors:

Ensure that your doctors know the types of medicine you use or have been using. This is very important and for prescription purposes, the doctor can be able to know how to adjust your dosage, avoid making assumptions and also help in diagnosis. Follow all your prescriptions and use instructions and Proper storage and availability of medicine in hospitals also critical. You can avoid errors like allergies, failure to adjust dosages etc

Your are responsible for your own health, ensure that you can be able to communicate with the doctor, if you cannot speak for some reason ensure some close to you is available to help. It is important for both party’s doctors and patients to avoid third party verbal communications as much as they can.

Ensure all safety characteristics have been implemented before allowing a doctor any other medical practitioner to examine you. You can ask is their hands are clean, ensure that the razors, and other medical equipments have been sterilized or are new for prevention of other infectious diseases.

Only go to recognized hospitals or at least ensure that the doctor or the pharmacist is qualified to provide treatment. It is also important to avoid self treatment and prescriptions, most common contributor of overdose, addictions and other medical related errors.

Avoid overcrowded hospitals and always check on the hospitals or doctors precautionary messages, Nil by mouth, restricted entry etc. Never take anything for granted.

Complex conditions will sometimes require complex medical care require the use of complex systems. These systems are always protected against failure; you have the right to question procedure that you are not comfortable with, also when changing treatment, doctors etc it is always good to consider health safety characteristics.

For any health treatment or examination you should always have your own standards of expectations, this will help you be vigilant so that no unnoticed failures befall you. Your health is your responsibility. Prevention of medical errors can only be achieved if there is a combination of both the medical fraternity and the patients. This collaboration can act as a dual control that presents the necessary checks and balances required. Quality control should also be extended towards the interface which is usually the first point of contact between you and medical care. If both the medical practitioner and the patient know what is expected of them, then we would be discussing other important issues.