Taking charge of your medical care
Monday, July 20th, 2009
By: Maiken Scott
mscott@whyy.org
Many patients are anxious about the quality of medical care they're receiving – and maybe for good reason. A recent report by the Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 98,000 people die each year as the result of medical errors. That's more deaths than from motor vehicle accidents or breast cancer. And nearly 2 million patients get an infection in hospitals each year.
Can you play a role in getting quality care? Dr. Dan Gottlieb, who's frequently been a patient, discusses how he has learned how to take charge of his care. Now he teaches courses for health care professionals.
Listen:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Thank you for discussing this topic. It is easy to forget how hard it is to be your own advocate when you are sick – and less than 100%. Which is why it is so important to be active in following health care policies and trends BEFORE you need to utilize the health care system.
This Saturday is Patient Safety Day. It has been every July 25th since 2001. The day is to remember during a moment of silence at noon and 6PM the patients who have died or been injured by preventable medical errors. It is also a moment to acknowledge the providers who have been working to improve the safety and quality of health care. This year Dr. Lucian Leape has been awarded the Inaugural Patient Safety Day Nightingale & Codman award for his tireless efforts in saving patients' lives and providers' livelihoods through quality, safe medical care delivery.
We all have a part to play in safe care – even when we or a loved one are not yet ill – especially then.