Speak Up Initiative

SPEAK UP Initiative - What is the Speak Up™ Initiative?

In March 2002, The Joint Commission, together with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, launched a national campaign to urge patients to take a role in preventing health care errors by becoming active, involved and informed participants on the health care team.

Speak Up™ encourages the public to:

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

- Pay attention to the care you get. Always make sure you're getting the right treatments and medicines by the right health care professionals. Don't assume anything.

- Educate yourself about your illness. Learn about the medical tests you get, and your treatment plan.

- Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate (advisor or supporter).

- Know what medicines you take and why you take them. Medicine errors are the most common health care mistakes.

- Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that has been carefully checked out. For example, The Joint Commission visits hospitals to see if they are meeting The Joint Commission's quality standards.

- Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.

Everyone plays an important role in making healthcare safer. That includes doctors, healthcare executives, nurses and many healthcare technicians and YOU!

Healthcare organizations all across the country are working to make healthcare safe. AHMC is one of them! As a patient, you can make your care safer by being an active, involved and informed member of your healthcare team.

To find out more, download the brochures by clicking on the links below.

English Brochures

Help Prevent Errors in Your Care [ PDF ]
Help Avoid Mistakes With Your Medicines [ PDF ]
Five Things You Can Do to Prevent Infection [ PDF ]
What You Should Know About Pain Management [ PDF ]
Prevent Medical Test Mistakes [ PDF ]
fHelp Avoid Mistakes in Your Surgery [ PDF ]
Planning Your Follow-up Care [ PDF ]
Understanding Your Doctors and Other Caregivers [ PDF ]
Know Your Rights [ PDF ]
Information for Living Organ Donors [ PDF ]
What You Should Know about Research Studies [ PDF ]

Links

Anesthesia and Sedation
Antibiotics>http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/Speak_Up_Anesthesia_infographic_final.pdf
Antibiotics
http://www.jointcommission.org/topics/speakup_antibiotics.aspx
At the Doctors Office
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/speakup_understanding.pdf
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/speakup_doctors_visit.pdf
At Home
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/Home_Care_SpeakUp.pdf
NEW! Avoid a Return Trip to the Hospital
http://www.jointcommission.org/topics/speakup_avoid_return_trip_hospital.aspx
Depression
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/speakup_depression.pdf
Diabetes - 5 Ways to be Active in Your Care at the Hospital
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/Speakup_Diabetes_brochure.pdf
5 Things you can do to prevent infection
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/Infection_Control_brochure.pdf
Health Care Settings
http://www.jointcommission.org/topics/speak_up_for_specific_health_care_settings.aspx
Pain
http://www.jointcommission.org/topics/speak_up_pain.aspx
Patient Advocacy
http://www.jointcommission.org/topics/speak_up_patient_advocacy.aspx
Preventing Medical Errors
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/speakup.pdf
Preventing Medical Test Mistakes
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/SpeakUp_Test.pdf
Preventing Medicine Errors
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/speakup_brochure_meds.pdf
Reducing Your Risk of Falling
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/Speakup_falls_brochure.pdf
Research Studies
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/speakup_research.pdf
Serious Illness and Palliative Care
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/Palliative_brochure.pdf
Stroke
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/Speakup_Stroke.pdf
X-rays and MRIs
http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/Speakup_imaging.pdf

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