Cumberland Medical Center’s - “In the Know”
Continuing our discussion with patient safety, patients can implement “extra” procedures to aid in their hospitalization being trouble free.

The Joint Commission, the governing body in charge of deciding what responsibilities hospital should assume to provide optimal care, have several recommendations for today’s patient. In this session, we will focus on ADVOCACY. Each of us needs a healthcare advocate, someone who can speak up for us when we are too ill to care for ourselves. The Joint Commission not only urges everyone to have a designated advocate, but further gives guidelines on advocacy responsibilities.

• Give your consent for your advocate to ask any question which    comes to mind concerning your healthcare (you may be too stressed at the time) and to write down answers (questions you or your advocate may have asked). As a patient, remembering details can be difficult.
  
• Ask your advocate to stay with you in the hospital (even overnight) to ensure you get the right medications at the right time and to offer quick assistance if needed.
  
• Ask your advocate to remember the answers to questions you have answered (they can speak up for you if you are too ill to answer)
  
• Make sure your advocate understands what you want done and that he or she will honor your decisions.
  
• Check to ensure you have a health care plan. The plan should detail what measures you want to sustain life, your choice regarding life-support, etc. These are called advanced directives and are available free of charge at Cumberland Medical Center. Simply visit the Case Management Department to pick up your free copy.

Please note: A new copy of your Advanced Directive is required with each admission (We cannot access a copy from a previous admission). We recommend you keep an extra copy on your person and ask registration or your nurse to make a copy for your new chart).

• Make sure you and your advocate understand procedures before signing consent forms.
  
• Make sure your advocate understands what care you will need at time of discharge and helps you relay information to your medical team early in the admission to facilitate a seamless discharge process.
  
• Your advocate must know what to look for if your condition is getting worse and know who to call for immediate help.

Remember, at Cumberland Medical Center your health matters and we are committed to keeping you “In the Know.”