COMMITMENT TO QUALITY AND SAFETY As a patient at Providence, you have the right and responsibility to a full understanding of your illness and the procedures your doctor may order for you. We have a strong commitment to helping you learn everything you need to know, so please ask questions as they arise during your stay with us. You may find it helpful to write down any questions you have. In compliance with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), Providence Hospitals invites you to view the public reporting of health care associated infections in South Carolina. Please click here for more information. Many different organizations, including individual hospitals, are releasing information on quality and patient safety, which can confuse people. Visit www.mySChospital.org, which was created by the South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA) and its member hospitals, as an educational Web site on the quality and safety of care provided in South Carolina hospitals. Your Patient Safety Checklist Patient safety is a priority at Providence. To make sure we provide the safest environment possible during your hospital stay, we need your active involvement. Please review the following questions. If you cannot answer "yes" to all of them at any time during your hospital stay or you have medical or safety concerns, please ask to speak to the clinical manager on your nursing unit right away. Are your call bell and bedside table always within reach? Does the staff respond quickly to any alarms in your room? Have you asked your nurse if you can get out of bed without assistance? Has your bed been placed in the lowest position and the side rails raised at the head of the bed whenever the hospital staff is not in your room? Have you seen the staff wash their hands? Has a nurse or doctor explained all procedures and treatments to you before they were completed? Did the nurse ask your name, date of birth, and check your ID band for every procedure and every time a medication was given to you? Did the nurse review your medications with you? Did you ask your doctor when you will be discharged? Do you know what to do when you go home? Have all your questions been answered? Universal Medication Form The Universal Medication Form is a tool developed for the consumer to keep track of all of the prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and herbal supplements that a person takes at home. You can get these forms from many places such as hospitals, physician offices, pharmacies and health fairs. Take the form with you and give copies to each of your doctors, your pharmacist and your dentist. Have them help you update the form if your medications change. English Version Spanish Version Additional Resources: The Joint Commission - The Joint Commission is the nation's predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals is an accredited institution. www.mySChospital.org - Created by SCHA, this tool can be used to educate yourself on the quality and safety of care provided by South Carolina hospitals. Hospital Compare - Use this tool to compare the quality of care the area hospitals provide. The Leapfrog Group - Leapfrog gathers and reports information on hospital quality and patient safety efforts to help patients make informed decisions about where to receive hospital care. 5 Million Lives - Providence is a proud participant of the "5 Million Lives" campaign sponsored by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. This is a voluntary initiative to protect patients from five million incidents of medical harm from December, 2006 through December, 2008. Questions or Concerns? For further inquiries about quality and safety information, please email us at quality@ProvidenceHospitals.com.