By Carl Norman
Special to GUIDON

General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, in conjunction with the National Patient Safety Foundation, will kick off Patient Safety Awareness Week, Monday.

The week aims at raising awareness for patient safety initiatives, improving health care quality and strengthening alliances between patients, families and their healthcare providers.

The 2010 theme – Let’s Talk! Healthy Conversations for Safer Healthcare — focuses on communication. Healthy communication between providers, patients and families helps reduce unnecessary care and is key to the health care process.

“Patient Safety Awareness Week is a call to action that promotes patient safety and the importance of partnerships in improving safe outcomes,” said Diane Pinakiewicz, NPSF president. “Clear and open communication between patients and their health care providers is key to safe care.”

“Many people think the only time they need to worry about patient safety is when they, or one of their loved ones, are admitted to the hospital, and that’s not the case at all,” said Brenda Helton, General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital patient safety manager. “Patient safety focuses on being proactive; it has become a national campaign designed to reduce medical errors by increasing patients’ involvement in their own care.”

“Encourage them to speak up if they have questions or concerns about the care they’re receiving and, if they don’t understand, ask for clarification. Know your diagnosis, the medical test you’re undergoing and your treatment plan. Know your medications and why you take them (keep a list).”

One key issue patient safety focuses on is communication between patients and providers. Officials recommend this be done via three basic questions people should ask their providers:

- What is my main problem?

- What do I need to do about it and why is it important for me to do this?

- What are the risks?

In addition to partnering with their provider, Helton said there is a multitude of patient safety issues people should focus on for a healthy life. One of those is handwashing.

“Handwashing is one of the most important things people can do to prevent complications and infections,” Helton said. “By washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol cleansers, you can keep yourself healthier and reduce the likelihood of getting colds, the flu and other bacterial and viral infections.”

When washing your hands, Helton suggests getting them wet first, and then washing with soap and water for 15 to 20 seconds or singing the alphabet song or Happy Birthday. If in a public restroom, use paper towels to turn the faucet off and open the door. If using the alcohol sanitizer, follow the directions on the product.

“This simple and important task that we learned in kindergarten can keep us and the people around us healthier,” Helton said.

When it comes to making healthcare safer, Helton said there are five simple steps people can take to help the process. First, ask questions to fully understand and voice concerns.

“It’s important that people ask questions and understand the answers,” Helton said. “Pick a provider that you’re comfortable talking to. If you need to, take a relative or friend that can help you ask and remember your questions.”

Next, keep a list of all medications, including any over-the-counter medicines and herbs.

“Ask about the side effects of medicines that are prescribed for you,” Helton said.

“Think of medicines like the chemicals you used in science lab at school. When you mixed some of them, they reacted with each other. Doctors need to know what you’re taking so they can be sure they all work well together.”

Helton said a medication list is also helpful when visiting the emergency room.

“I don’t know about you, but I always forget to tell them about some of them in a stressful situation like that, and I’m a nurse and should know better,” Helton said. “We have cards that fit into wallets that people can write their medications on; ask any nurse or provider for help completing it.”

The third step is making sure to get all test results before having a procedure done, Helton said.

“Ask your provider how you will get the results and what they mean,” she said.

Asking for options and discussing them with your provider is the fourth step people can take to ensure safe health care.

“When you make a decision about your care, you should have all the facts and all the options for care,” she said.

Lastly, patients should make sure they understand what will happen if they need surgery. She emphasized that patients should know exactly what will be done, how long it will take, what happens afterwards and how they will feel while recovering.

“Safe health care is a true partnership and we need everyone’s help in the process,” Helton said.

“We encourage you to have providers thoroughly explain any care, treatments and medications you may receive; stop any procedure if you feel something is wrong or does not look right;  and make sure we listen to your thoughts, questions and concerns. We actively ask for your feedback regarding patient safety at GLWACH.”

For more information or to ask questions, send a message to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Patients can also call the patient representative at 596.0418 or the patient safety manager at 596.1705.

(Editor’s note: Norman writes for General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital Marketing.)