Talk with your doctor about which hospital can provide the best care for your specific needs. While you are in the hospital, as well as when you are being discharged, ask your doctor to explain the treatment plan that you will use when you return home. This includes learning about your medicines and finding out when you can get back to your regular activities. Research shows that doctors think their patients understand more than they really do about what they should and should not do when they are discharged from the hospital. If you are in a hospital, consider asking all health care workers who have direct contact with you to please wash their hands before administering treatments, changing dressings, or performing procedures.
Hand washing is an important way to prevent the spread of infection in hospitals.
A recent study found that when patients checked whether health care workers washed their hands, the workers washed their hands more often and used more soap. If you are having surgery, make sure that you, your doctor, and your surgeon all agree and are clear on exactly what will be done. Wrong-site surgery is 100 percent preventable. Encourage your surgeon to mark the site to be operated on before the surgery. Speak up if you have questions or concerns and ask for clarification until you are certain that you understand the answer.