Our health care partnership begins with our commitment to your safety. Patients who are more involved with their care in the hospital tend to do better and stay safer. By working together with your health care team, you can lower your risk of injury and make your hospital stay as safe as possible.

 Watch our patient safety video
        Small, 37 MB | Large 100 MB (Windows Media)

Here is how you can make your stay a safe and positive experience:

• Identify yourself. Wear your hospital I.D. bracelet at all times. If
  your bracelet comes off, ask your nurse to provide a new one.
• Check the information on your hospital I.D. bracelet to make
  sure that your name, birth date, and medical record number
  are correct.
• Make sure that all staff members check your I.D. bracelet before
  any procedure, surgery or test is performed, or medicine is given.
• Ask questions if you do not understand. It is your body and your
  right to know.

Feel free to talk to your doctors and nurses about any concerns you may have. If you think of questions when your doctor or nurse is not present, write them down so that you can ask them
at a later time.

*Ask your care provider to arrange for an interpreter if you are deaf or hearing-impaired, or if English is not your primary language.

Medicine Safety

While you’re in the hospital, it’s important for you and your doctor  to talk about your medicines. Tell your doctor and nurse everything you’re taking, including:

• prescription medicines
• over-the-counter medicines (like aspirin and cough medicine)
• medicines that a family member or friend gave you
• vitamins
• herbal products

Taking Your Medicines

• Let your doctor and nurse know if you have any allergies to foods or drugs or have had previous reactions to any drugs, foods or latex.
• Ask your nurse about your medicines—what they are, what they look like, what they do, when they are given and what side effects should be expected and reported.
• Make sure that the staff checks your I.D. bracelet before giving you any medicine.
• Look at all medicines before you take them. If you do not recognize a medicine, let your nurse know.
• You must not take medicines that you brought to the hospital from home. You should give them to your nurse until you leave the hospital or give them to someone to take home for you.

Ask your nurse for a free copy of The Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Guide to Using Medicines the Right Way. View the five-minute educational video “Getting the Most From Your Medications” on the Patient Education System.

Participating in Your Care

• Discuss your treatment plan with your doctor and nurse.
• Make sure that you understand and agree with that plan.
• Be informed about your treatments and ask when the treatments will be given and the purpose. Question anything that seems different or anything that you don’t understand.
• If you are having surgery, be sure that you and your doctor discuss the details of the procedure and that you understand what to expect.
• If you are experiencing pain, inform your nurse or doctor. Most pain can be controlled. You and your health care team can work together to manage your pain.
• You may receive a lot of information at once and that can be confusing. You may want to take notes or ask a family member or friend to listen with you when a diagnosis, treatment plan, test results or discharge plans are explained.
• If equipment is used for your care, know what it is for and how it should sound.
• If possible, designate one family member to interact with your health care team. This person can then pass along information to other family and friends.

We recognize the unhealthful side effects of smoking and actively support a smoke–free environment. Smoking is prohibited in the hospital. Smoking in patient areas puts patients, visitors and staff at risk. If you are a smoker and wish to quit, speak with your doctor or nurse about available options.

Preventing the Spread of Germs

• Be aware that hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of germs. Wash hands for at least 15 seconds.
• Practice good personal hygiene.
• Let your nurse know if your gown or linens are soiled.
• Feel free to remind staff members to wash their hands or wear gloves before examining you or giving you your medicine.
• Ask friends and relatives who have colds, respiratory symptoms or other contagious illnesses not to visit you or anyone in the hospital.
• Get vaccinated, if it is recommended. Flu and pneumonia vaccines can help prevent illnesses, particularly in young children, the elderly, and high-risk patients.

Preventing Falls

Ask for help when getting out of bed, especially at night. The hospital is an unfamiliar place, and most falls occur when patients try to get out of bed on their own to go to the bathroom.

• Make sure the nurse call button on your bed works and that you know how to use it.
• Let your nurse know if you will have trouble reaching the call button.
• If possible, call for help before the need to get to the bathroom becomes urgent.
• Make sure there is adequate light to see, and keep your eyeglasses within reach.
• Wear slippers with rubber soles to prevent slipping.
• Point out to staff any spills or obstructions on the floor.
• Make sure the brakes are locked when you get into and out of a wheelchair.

Related Patient Safety Information and Resources

Visit the Johns Hopkins online press kit for more information about Patient Safety initiatives at Johns Hopkins.

*Ask for an interpreter if you are deaf or hearing impaired, or if English is not your primary language. *

*Pida a un intérprete si usted es sordo o tiene oído dañado, os si inglés no es su idioma primario.

*Demander un interprète si vous êtes sourd, ou si vous êtes dur d'oreille, ou si l'anglais n'est pas votre langue primaire.

*Chiedere un interprete se lei sono sordo o l'udienza indebolita, o se Inglese non è la sua lingua primaria.

*Bitten Sie um einen Dolmetscher, wenn Sie taubes oder verschlechtetes Gehör sind, oder, wenn Englisch nicht ihre hauptsächliche Sprache ist.