Speak Upsm to Prevent Medication Mistakes The Joint Commission on Accreditation of health care Organizations (JCAHO) is a non-profit organization thatsets the standards by which hospital health care quality is measured in America and around the world. Preferred Care requires that all contracted hospitals be JCAHO-accredited (approved).  Preferred Care works with the JCAHO to provide you with reliable information to help you and your family make health care decisions.

The JCAHO and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) started a national program in 2002 called Speak Upsm. The goal of this program is to help patients take a role in preventing health care errors by becoming an active, involved and informed participant in their health care. This year, Speak Upsm focuses on things you can do to prevent medication mistakes.

Speak Upsm encourages patients to:

Speak up if you have questions or concerns. And if you don't understand something, ask again. It's your body and you have a right to know.

Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you're getting the right treatments and medications by the right health care professionals. Don't assume anything.

Educate yourself about any health conditions you have, the medical tests you go through, and your treatment plan.

Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate (a person who works with you to defend your cause – in this case, your health).

Know what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common health care errors.

Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that has undergone an on-site evaluation against established state-of-the-art quality and safety standards, such as those provided by Joint Commission. Click Here to search the Quality Check guide of JCAHO-accredited health care providers.

Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the most important member of your health care team.

To learn what you can do to Prevent Medication Mistakes:

• Click Here for the JCAHO’s Tips to Prevent Medication Mistakes (brochure – pdf)
• Click Here to view/print a Wallet Card on which you can record your current prescriptions (pdf)

For more information on the JCAHO:

• Click Here to go to the JCAHO’s Web site for the general public.

Source: The Joint Commission on Accreditation of health care Organizations (JCAHO)
Posted: February 2005