Northwest's hospital-wide Speak
UPTM campaign informs patients what
they can do to help us make their safe
experiences even safer. Each letter of
Speak UP stands for a different safety
action you can take to play a more
active role in your care (see sidebar
below). Posters describing the
campaign, which was developed by
The Joint Commission, have been
posted throughout the hospital.
The second initiative, our new
Patient Handbook, helps patients
learn what professionals at Northwest
do to safeguard patient health. It is
presented to patients when they check
in. Topics include:
Hand washing: Good hand hygiene
helps prevent infections. Patients are
encouraged to ask their care providers
if they've washed their hands. Patients
also are asked to disinfect their own
hands before eating.
Fall prevention: Patients are
evaluated to determine their fall risks.
Those at increased risks for falls are
given special identification bands and
door signs. This alerts caregivers to
take added precautions during
treatment and transfer. Other
precautions include raising the side
rails of beds and lowering beds closer
to the floor.
Rapid Response: If a patient's
medical status changes, the patient or
an advocate can contact Northwest's
Rapid Response team by dialing
8999. Qualified healthcare
professionals will arrive quickly.
SPEAK UPTM
PATIENT SAFETY
Keeping Patients Safe at Northwest
When you come to Northwest, your
safety is our top priority. Now, we're
making your patient experience even
more reliable with two new initiatives.
SPEAK UP if you have questions.
PAY ATTENTION to the care you are receiving.
EDUCATE yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests
you are undergoing and your treatment plan.
ASK a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.
KNOW what medications you take and why you take them.
USE a hospital, clinic, surgery center or other type of facility
that has undergone a rigorous on-site evaluation of quality
and safety standards.
PARTICIPATE in all decisions about your treatment.
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1501 S. Coulter, Amarillo, TX 79106 (806) 354-1000 |
