Since medication mistakes are the most common medical errors, keeping track of all medications administered to you in the hospital is essential. Ask your advocate to keep an eye on any medication that looks new or different and to ask questions in a polite and respectful manner if something appears out of the ordinary. Repeating your allergies to medications upon entry into the operating room or when meeting a new nurse or physician may feel repetitive but is in fact an important part of keeping you safe and healthy.

Lists of medications and their dosages with descriptions of pills, medication bottles and labels, will be placed in Notebook Notes. Medication names can look alike and sound alike. Ask your advocate to be sure you are receiving the correct medication.

5. A Disease Free Hospital Stay.

Ask your advocate to make a request of everyone to wash their hands, including the doctors and nurses. A sign can be placed on the wall above your bed that asks everyone to wash their hands before touching you. A container of antibacterial gel can be placed on your bedside table for everyone to use if your hospital room isn't equipped with one. Ask your advocate to ask all the nurses and physicians to wash their hands and wear disposable gloves before touching the patient. Ask the physician to swap his/her stethoscope with an alcohol wipe before touching your loved one. Consider requesting a private room. If there is no roommate, you will have fewer people traveling into your hospital room and that translates to a lower probability of transferring infection. Ask your advocate to tell all your loved ones not to bring in their children. They could spread germs or leave with some.

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