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What You Need To Know To
Survive A Trip To The
Hospital
Posted: Thursday,
September 11, 2003
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There are some very real hazards that exist for
people forced to spend time in the hospital...and in light of the
recent story about the Wichita Falls man that settled his lawsuit filed over
an unexpected amputation. After enduring 12 surgeries in 3
years following my infamous motorcycle accident of 1989 has allowed me
to earn a level of expertise when it comes to empowering
patients and their families. The poor guy in Wichita Falls is an
extreme example of what happens when patients and their families aren't
aggressively pro active when it comes to dealing with doctors and especially
hospital staff.
There's
a 1 in 5 chance of being victimized by medical malpractice the next
time you stay in a hospital...the numbers don't lie...but you could die.
You
can't afford to ignore these facts before you go to the hospital!
I've said this before and it's worth repeating:
I have an enormous amount of respect for the medical community...a
group of folks who are dedicated to saving lives and often working
long hours, despite being woefully under-compensated
for the risks they take. So don't misinterpret
this story as an attack on doctors or nurses or the health care profession
in general, because it's not.
The
bigger lesson here is one all of us can benefit from, whether you're
dealing with a doctor, an insurance salesman or a stock broker: Anytime
you're asking for advice from someone who could impact your world in a big
way, you've got to
check the work of the people you've chosen to trust when
you're most vulnerable. So here's my Top 3
tips that'll (hopefully) help get you or your loved ones home safely:
Ben's
Top 3 Hospital Survival Tips:
1. Always
have someone backing you up. A second set of eyes can
make all the difference whenever possible. Don't be shy about checking
the work of others...especially at the hospital...a place that's full
of germs, full of sick people, and full of people that can make
life-or-death errors, period!
2. If
you or someone you love is ever kept in the hospital overnight, take copious
notes! And check the work of the nurse...especially the
overnight shift! They're human, they make mistakes, too.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/UPDATE, filed
09/08/03: This segment generated a bunch of heat from
nurses ticked off at me about my comments regarding overnight nurses.
After wading through dozens of e-mails from nurses, doctors and others
from the health care industry, it's obvious that I need to re-think my
advice. And so I have.
If possible, have a family member or friend
with you throughout your entire hospital stay! Patients
need to have someone there to support them through all
shifts, 24 hours a day. It's the smartest, most pro-active thing any
patient can do for themselves: Potentially fatal errors can be made at any
time of the day or night.
Don't stop here!
Get your act together and affairs in order before you check in for the
chance to eat that wonderful hospital food!!! It
doesn't matter whether you're checking in for some medical procedures or
checking in to a hotel, you've got to get your affairs in order,
especially if you've got a family, have gotten married or divorced in
the last 10 years, or if you've just been an irresponsibile flake and
have failed to take care of business. Check
out Ben's comprehensive section that'll help you be prepared for
whatever [life's] cards are dealt to you.
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