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My Medical Advisor Checklist
 No matter if you or a loved one is in the hospital or planning a trip to one, you need to make sure that you are prepared. We have provided a checklist that covers medications, illnesses, treatments, procedures, surgeries, physicians, and illness prevention which will put you one step closer to a quick recovery. The checklist is designed to keep patients from common mistakes like receiving someone else’s medication or treatment, the wrong procedure or hospital acquired infections. Patients are at risk for mistakes and we want to do everything possible to prevent them as mistake can be deadly.
1. Make sure that you have the best physician and hospital for your condition.
2. As the patient, you will want to surround yourself with friends or family members that will act as your advocate to oversee your care. It is always important to take someone with you, even to your office appointments.
3. Keep a journal with all of your personal information, which includes: Your name, birth date, any illness, surgeries, allergies (and reactions), name and contact information of your designated advocate, all medications and supplements along with their dose and frequency. This information should be reviewed every time you visit a healthcare provider. Journals are available online at MyMedicalAdvisor.net.
4. Before receiving any medications, ask the provider to review all of the medications with you, along with what you are taking them for. If the medication is not something that you usually take or something seems out of the ordinary, you must speak up. Asking questions could save your life.
5. For procedures or treatments, you will need to have your advocate with you and all of your checklist information should be reviewed prior to any treatments or procedures.
6. If you are to have surgery, make sure your advocate can accompany you to the hospital or surgical facility. They should be with you in the pre-surgical area and meet with you and your surgeon prior to the procedure to review your checklist information. Make sure that the correct operative site is marked with a permanent marker while your advocate and physician are present.
7. To prevent hospital acquired infections, ask everyone who comes in contact with you to wash their hands. Even if physician and nurses use disposable gloves, they should wash their hands prior to putting on the gloves. Place a sign on the wall above your bed asking everyone to please wash their hands before touching you.
8. After surgery, it is important to have someone with you as much as possible. Anesthesia and pain medications affect everyone differently, so you need someone that is able to understand everything that is taking place on your behalf. You can hire a nurse or sitter through My Medical Advisor if you need someone to fill in for your family.
. If you are unable to move, your body should be turned frequently to prevent bed sores and your advocate or family member should make sure that this action is performed. The staff at most hospitals are very busy and things like this can get over looked.
10. Make yourself and your advocate part of your healthcare team, and verify that you clearly understand all of the information you are being provided, as well as any proposed treatments or procedures. Never be afraid to ask questions and if you are not getting your questions answered, ask someone else until you do.
11. Make sure you and your family understands the plan of care prior to discharge and what you should expect when you go home. All medications should be reviewed with you and your advocate, including the drug name, dose, frequency, what it is used for, and possible side effects. You should also know the signs and symptoms that would require medical attention.
Take charge of your health and be prepared!
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