Patient Safety Tips
The staff of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center will do all we can to ensure your safety. Here is how you can help. Provide detailed information about your health history, including your present complaints, past illnesses, prior hospitalizations, medications, and any risks or concerns you perceive.
Always ask your physician or nurse to answer any questions you have about treatment and care. Participate in the decisions concerning your treatment plan, then follow them carefully. Talk with the hospital staff or your physician about your medications and the precautions you may need to take while on those medications. Finally, follow all hospital rules and regulations.
Face shields, masks, gowns, hair or head coverings, and gloves or a combination of these may be worn by your caregiver at various times during your stay. In addition, visitors may be asked to wear some or all of this equipment. These measures are put in place to meet local, state, and federal guidelines for controlling the spread of germs. This does not mean that you or the patient in the next bed is contagious to others. Patients with contagious illnesses (germs) are often placed in special isolation rooms. If you would like more information, please contact your nurse or the Infection Prevention and Control Department.
Infections, side effects from medicine, poor eyesight, impaired hearing, lack of oxygen, or simply being in an unfamiliar place can cause a patient to become confused while in the hospital. This disorientation can inhibit your ability to judge your surroundings, resulting in a fall or accident. At these times of confusion, the nurse may call a family member to come to the hospital and sit with you. If a family member is not available, the use of safety equipment, such as bed or chair alarms or low beds, may be necessary. The nursing staff will continue to check on you during this time to help with anything you may need.
Patient’s Permitted Activity Level
Do you understand the activity level your physician has prescribed? Ask your nurse if you have questions about your activity level. If your physician says you can get out of bed, lower the bed to the lowest position, and always ask for help if you need it.
Early in the morning, a lab technician may wake you before breakfast to draw blood for lab tests ordered by your physician that require you to have fasted (no food, drinks, or medication) for several hours. Timed blood tests are sometimes necessary to monitor medication levels and/or specific blood markers. If you have concerns about the frequency of blood draws, please share this with your nurse or physician.
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center wants patients and their families to participate in the patient’s care. However, please DO NOT take or administer care, food, or medication without speaking to the physician or nurse. For your safety, hospital policy does not allow use of medications from home unless ordered by your physician. If medicine is required during your stay, your physician will prescribe it for you. If you brought medicine of your own, please send it home. If you are not able to send it home, please notify your nurse to have it secured.
Safety Tips
Many factors, such as medications, procedures, and your physical condition, may make you feel weak or dizzy. Please never hesitate to use your nurse call system for help, especially if you need to get up. Also use the nurse call system in the bathroom if you become weak or need help getting back to bed. Wear nonskid footwear while in the hospital. They are available from your nurse. For additional information on safety, please see Speak Up.