I stood next to “Laura’s” bed just before her surgery as the nurse asked her for her list of medications and allergies. Laura shot back at the nurse, “Don’t you have it? I already gave the same list to everyone!” The nurse explained that the question is a safety precaution, meant to ensure that everyone […]
As a patient advocate, I received a call from a woman who was angry that she was not permitted to see her husband in the hospital. She said her husband was too tired to speak up and she knows other people were able to visit loved ones. She couldn’t believe that at this hospital no one would […]
Editor’s Note: Ilene Corina and her colleagues at the Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy are leading a 5-month-long campaign to encourage everyone to become better informed and more engaged in their healthcare. Between now and August 2020, the campaign, “Take Charge: 5 Steps to Safer Health Care,” will focus on one action per […]