7 Medical Slipups and How to Avoid Them acknowledges medical slipups as the third major cause of death behind only cancer and heart disease. However, the good news is that you can do a few things to help your healthcare adviser sidestep the most common ones listed below:
Wrong Medication
If you get the wrong medication or amount, it can cause serious problems. Some heart disease medications for example are powerful. Hence it can be tricky to give them in a dose that’s both safe and effective. Therefore poor training, human error, and poor communication can all lead to mistakes. So concentrate, ask questions, and keep an updated list of your medicines so your doctor knows about other drugs you take.
Antibiotics Misuse
Because antibiotics fight bacteria, they won’t help the common cold, the flu, or other things caused by a virus. And if you take them too frequently, they might stop working for you. So it’s better your doctor prescribes them for the right reason, and at the correct dose. As such, don’t ask for antibiotics if you don’t need them.
Needless Hospital Stay
You shouldn’t be discharged from a hospital before you’re ready. Studies show that if you go home too quickly, especially after surgery, you’re more likely to get seriously ill again because of related problems. Also, you don’t want needless hospital stays linked to higher rates of infection. Instead talk to your doctor about your symptoms so you can get the treatment you need, then get home and stay there.
Wrong Site Surgery
An example of this is when a wrong limb is taken off during a surgery, or when the wrong organ or even the wrong person is operated on. The layout of the surgery room, distractions, and running behind schedule can all lead to this. One thing you can do is make sure the right area on your body is marked before surgery.
Surgical Instrument Left Behind
There are cases though rare about a surgical team accidentally leaving something like a sponge or instrument inside your body. This can lead to serious internal problems, including an abscess, a blockage, small tears, infection, or inflammation. Signs of these issues include severe pain, swelling, fever, nausea, and changes in bowel movements. So let your doctor know immediately if you’re experiencing any symptoms after surgery.
Treatment Delay
When your treatment is delayed, you don’t get the medical care you need. This can be when you’re not scheduled for a diagnosis test in a timely way, results are late, or misdiagnosed. Human error, bad communication, and poor planning, among other things, can cause delays. If you don’t hear back from your doctor, don’t assume things are OK. Call to get your results and ask about the next steps.
Prolonged Bed Rest
If your stay in the hospital gets to 10 days, you start to lose muscle mass and bone density. If you’re in bed longer than that, it also can affect your heart, lungs, and brain, and cause bed sores. That’s why many doctors want you up and about as soon as possible. Scientists are working on safe ways to get people moving in all kinds of conditions.
How to Evade Medical Slipups
Speak out on Medications
Just because you told one doctor what drugs you take, that doesn’t mean all your doctors know. Tell your care providers if you take medication or have a bad drug side effect reaction. It’s also good to write them down and make sure a loved one knows as well. Medications can get mixed up, misplaced, or forgotten in the process of meeting different healthcare professionals.
Do Diligent Search
Ask your doctor about your condition and treatments, and find reliable online sources to learn more about them. It’s important to understand how drugs or procedures will affect you. And don’t be timid to get information on why some medication is being recommended.
Ask Questions
If you have questions or concerns, again don’t be afraid to ask. You have the right to question anyone involved in your health care. This way you help your health care providers avoid a risky mistake that can set your health back.
Select a “Care Coordinator”
You can choose a healthcare professional, such as your primary care doctor, to coordinate your care. It can help cut down on confusion and mistakes, especially if you have multiple health problems and doctors or are in the hospital.
Get Support
Get a friend or family member to come with you when you see doctors or have a hospital stay to help keep track of your care. You may feel in command of all the details now, but that may change as your condition and treatment progress, especially if you have surgery.
Choose the Right Hospital
Lastly, 7 medical slipups and how to avoid them is being able to choose the right hospital for your treatments. So if you’ll be at a hospital for a procedure or testing that’s planned, take the time to read up on the facility. If you have a choice, choose one that has lots of experience with your condition.
