June 2024 Sally: Hi Dad, how’s it going? Dad: Oh, can’t complain, I guess. For a guy my age, that is. Sally: Well that doesn’t sound too good. What’s the matter? Dad: I’m sure it’s nothing serious, but my stomach – or something in that area – has been giving me grief lately. Sally: Have…

Read More

Why the Healthcare Proxy or a Surrogate Decision-Maker? When entering the hospital or when registering for a doctor’s visit, you will often be given a packet of information.  In that packet will be a form asking you who will be your decision maker if you can’t make decisions for yourself.  That is not the best…

Read More

TakeCHARGE: 5 Steps to Safer Health Care Since before the pandemic, many of us throughout the country have recognized that most members of the public could be better prepared to enter the healthcare system as patients.  Medical staff are overworked and help is in short supply.  With medical errors being a leading cause of death…

Read More

An Insider’s Perspective by: Stephanie Schulz, BCPA A Voice for You Patient Advocacy https://www.avoiceforyouadvocacy.com/ After spending 30 years working in the pharmacy industry, it is clear to me why keeping a current medication list is vital. Along with a record of your medical history, this is part of Step 2 of the Take Charge Campaign:…

Read More

Pulse Center for Patient Safety, Education & Advocacy June 02, 2022, 13:39 GMT DAVID HALPERINPulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy   #3 of public awareness campaign’s “5 Steps to Safer Health Care” aims to prevent “doorknob moments” When we visit a doctor or hospital, we are often worried and stressed . . . Often,…

Read More

A Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy patient safety advocate/instructor met with a small group of community residents who have been diagnosed with lupus at the Lupus Alliance of Long Island/Queens office in Bellmore, Long Island. Each person received their diagnosis at a different stage of their life, from as recently as a…

Read More

Step #4 TakeCHARGE 5 Steps to Safer Health Care Next week is the final week for the 2021 TakeCHARGE Campaign’s Step #4: Ask your caregivers to wash their hands and help stop the spread of infection.  In the last two weeks I asked two clinicians to wash. They were not thrilled with my request. Once…

Read More

Is Your 18-Year-Old Ready to Leave Home? As young people and their parents start to think about how to prepare for college, don’t forget the 5 Steps to Safer Health Care. Step #1 – Be sure both you and your 18-year-old child have copies of their healthcare proxy form in case they get sick or…

Read More

This article was originally written for The National Patient Safety Foundation in 2014 Are Advance Directives a Patient Safety Issue? Posted By Mark Alpert, Wednesday, April 16, 2014Updated: Friday, June 06, 2014Are advance directives, living wills, health care proxies, and do-not-resuscitate instructions patient safety issues? The P.S. Blog asked two patient safety experts to weigh in…

Read More