Patient Safety

Chesapeake Regional Medical Center is dedicated to the safety of their patients. As a patient you have the right to keep your health care environment safe by being involved in the care you receive and asking questions during your stay in the hospital. CGH is accredited by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and is part of a network of care standards. For more information about the JACHO visit their web site at www.jointcommission.org.

View an online video about patient safety.

Here is how your can make your stay a safe and positive experience.

Identification

As an inpatient person at CGH be sure to check the information on your hospital I.D. bracelet to make sure that your name, date of birth and medical record number are correct. Make sure that doctors and nurses check your I.D. bracelet before any procedure or taking any medications. If you lose your I.D. bracelet, ask your nurse to provide you with a new one. If you are an outpatient person hospital staff will be verifying patient identification throughout your care.

Keeping it clean

Each year, many lives and millions of dollars are lost due to the spread of infections in hospitals. Don't be afraid to remind friends, family and healthcare providers to wash and sanitize their hands before coming into direct contact with you.

Medicine Safety

During you stay in the hospital, it's important that your doctor and nurse to know what medication your are currently taking, including:

• prescription medications
  
  
• over-the-counter medicines (vitamins, aspirin, cough medicine)
  
  
• natural/herbal products

Taking medicines

• Be sure to tell your doctor or nurse if you are allergic to any medicines, including latex and shellfish.
  
  
• If you are given a pill you are not familiar with, don't recognize or don't understand why you are taking the medicine, ask.

Be active in your treatment

• Discuss your treatment options with your doctor and nurse.
  
  
• Make sure you understand the treatment. If you don't understand, ask.

Know what to do after being discharged

Make sure you understand what you need to do to keep your care plan active. Take time to speak to your caregivers about what medications you'll need and when you'll need to take them. Make sure you have contact information for one or more of your caregivers if you have further questions once you get home.

The more you know the safer you'll be.

Advance directives

The Federal Patient Self-Determination Act requires hospitals to ask all admitted patients if they have an Advance Directive, such as a “Living Will” or a “Durable Power of Attorney” that would affect decisions regarding your medical treatment. You may click here for answers to the most commonly asked questions about Advance Directives, or if you would like more information about this Federal law, or the Virginia Natural Death Act, please ask your nurse for a free booklet. Download a Virginia Advance Medical Directive form here.