“Hey, doc, you’re killing me.” Or, more specifically, us.
A recent report from researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine points to medical errors as the third leading cause of death in this country. Despite the many safeguards put in place by the government, hospitals, and doctors, themselves, more than 250,000 people a year in the U.S. die from hospital-acquired infections, wrong-site surgeries, medication mistakes and a host of other missteps with deadly consequences.
What’s a patient to do? Flat on their backs and often disoriented, they are literally in no position to speak up on their own behalf. That’s where family or close friends come in. Every hospital patient needs an advocate — someone who knows the patient’s medical history and can interact effectively with doctors and nurses when they observe or suspect a problem.
Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
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