Patient Safety

At Bates County Memorial Hospital, we are concerned with providing quality care to our patients. We are committed to patient safety. We have invested in many safety measures such as electronic bar coding, electronic physician ordering and automated medication dispensing.

Patient Responsibilities

You have the responsibility to:

•  Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.
• Speak up if you have questions or concerns, or don’t understand something about your care.
• Pay attention to the care you are receiving, and ask questions if something doesn’t seem right.
• Expect health care workers to introduce themselves when they enter your room.  Look for their identification badges. If you are unsure, ask.
• Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing and your treatment plan.
• Thoroughly read all medical forms and make sure you understand them before you sign.
• Make sure you are familiar with the operation of any equipment that will be used for your care at home. If you will be using oxygen at home, do not smoke or allow anyone to smoke near you while oxygen is in use.
• Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate, and make sure this person understands your preferences in health care treatment decisions. Your advocate can ask questions that you may not think of while you are under stress. Your advocate also can help remember answers to questions you have asked and speak up for you if you cannot.
• Make sure your advocate understands the type of care you will need when you get home. Your advocate should know what to look for if your condition is getting worse and who to call for help.
• Know what medications you take and why you take them. Ask questions if you aren’t sure.
• Ask about the purpose of the medication and ask for written information about it, including its brand and generic names. Also inquire about the side effects of the medication.
• Verify that a medication is for you if you do not recognize it. Ask about oral medications before swallowing, and read the contents of bags of intravenous (IV) fluids. If you’re not well enough to do this, ask your advocate to do this.
• Tell your doctors and nurses about allergies or previous negative reactions to medications whenever you are going to receive a new medication.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to take multiple medications together. This holds true for vitamins, herbal supplements and over-the-counter drugs, too.
• Ask about follow-up care before you leave the Hospital and make sure you understand all the instructions.