how to -be proactive
Print this page
Award-winning patient safety program from The Joint Commission, a not-for-profit health organization.
Insist On The Best Doctors
We all know how bad things can get if your parents have a doctor who isn’t up to speed on their illness, or is too busy, or with whom the relationship is strained. It’s critically important to feel confident about your doctors.
Don’t hesitate to make a change, if necessary. Trust your gut.
So identify the best hospital in the area (consider a teaching hospital if you can), and make sure your parents have the best doctors in that facility. If you have a diagnosis, go to the doctor who is best in that specialty – the one who has the most experience with the illness, the procedure, the symptoms, the side effects, the latest research and treatment possibilities.
In the Find Doctors section, you’ll get ideas on where to look for a
doctor, what qualities we found a doctor should have, and how to make the most of your medical team.
Don’t hesitate to make a change, if necessary. Trust your gut.
So identify the best hospital in the area (consider a teaching hospital if you can), and make sure your parents have the best doctors in that facility. If you have a diagnosis, go to the doctor who is best in that specialty – the one who has the most experience with the illness, the procedure, the symptoms, the side effects, the latest research and treatment possibilities.
In the Find Doctors section, you’ll get ideas on where to look for a
doctor, what qualities we found a doctor should have, and how to make the most of your medical team.
Upon entering any medical facility, make sure the information on your parent’s ID bracelet is correct. Then, whenever medication is being dispensed, be sure the nurse checks that same bracelet.
"Five Must-Do's When a Loved One Is Ill" by Elizabeth Cohen, CNN.com
Aftercare Tips for Patients Checking Out of the Hospital
Aftercare Tips for Patients Checking Out of the Hospital
