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HOW TO REDUCE MEDICAL ERRORS

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What You can do to Reduce Medical Errors

1. If you are given a prescription that you can't read the name and dose of the medication, request the office nurse or secretary to change the prescription in a legible one or a computer generated Rx.

2. If you are not clear, did not understand, or forgot the instruction by your clinician, request for a written or printed instruction.

3. If your clinician requested a test or procedure done on you or your child, and you have not heard from them for 72 hours, call the office for the result if normal or abnormal.

4. If your clinician gives you a prescription, always ask for the serious side effects of the medication. Now that the Internet is all over the place, you should read about your medication especially its side effects. You should go to NIH.gov, AAP.org, emedicine.com, google.com for more information. University websites are also reliable.

5. If you are taking many medications, always bring all of them each time you visit your clinician. Bring also the over the counter medications you are taking.

6. Before you visit your clinician, always write your questions and concerns. Never leave home without it.

7. Keep a copy of your medical record especially your immunizations and laboratory results.

8. If you had had a serious reaction from a medication, always mention it to your clinician when you are given a prescription.

9. Make sure your primary care clinician gets a copy of a report from a consultant or specialist that you have seen.

10. If you need a refill of a medication, call during the office hours. Do not allow yourself to run out of medication especially inhalers for asthma attack.

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