We want to make sure you have a safe and comfortable
visit at Akron General. And we need your help. That's
why we have developed this guide for patients and
families.
Ask Questions
There may be a number of people involved in your
care. Feel free to ask questions about your care
and to express your preferences and concerns.
Staff Identification
All Akron General employees, volunteers and doctors
wear name badges that identify their names and departments.
If an employee, volunteer or doctor is not wearing
a name badge, please ask him or her to put it on
or ask for another staff person.
Patient Identification
Do not let anyone give you medications, tests or
procedures without checking your name and verifying
your birth date. When specimens are obtained, make
sure specimen containers are labeled with your name
in your presence.
Describing Symptoms
A physical examination evaluation and medical tests
provide valuable
information about your condition, but your description
of symptoms is key in your diagnosis and treatment.
When asked about your symptoms, try to identify
when the symptoms started, what time of day they
occur, how long they last, how often they occur,
and if they are getting better or worse. The more
details you can provide us, the better.
Education Information
We have literature, videos, classes and Internet
access to help you learn more. Akron General has
a Community Health Library located in the main lobby
of the hospital and one in our Health & Wellness
Center - West.
Pain Management
We want you to be as comfortable as possible. Although
it may not be possible to eliminate all pain, there
are methods to reduce pain to tolerable levels.
Please let us know when you are having pain. You
will be asked to rate your pain on a scale of 0-10,
with 0 being no pain and 10 being severe pain. Reporting
pain as a number helps the doctors and nurses know
how well your treatment is working and whether changes
should be made.
Medications
Your doctor, nurse and pharmacist have major roles
in medication safety. They select the medication
that's best for you, prescribe the correct dose,
dispense the medication correctly and label it clearly.
Each medication order is checked and double-checked
by pharmacy and nursing staff. As a patient or family
member, your role is to share the responsibility
for safe medication use. You owe it to yourself
and your family to learn as much as you can about
the medications you are taking. This includes over
the counter medications, herbs and vitamins.
- Keep a list of medications
that you cannot take and the reasons why (e.g.
allergic reactions) and provide this list to your
healthcare providers. You may be asked by different
people about allergies to medications because
this is very important.
- Before any test or procedure,
ask if it will require any dyes or medicines and
remind your nurse and doctor if you have allergies.
- Tell the doctor, anesthesiologist
and nurses if you have allergies to medications,
latex, etc. Also tell them if you or a family
member have ever had problems with anesthesia.
Medications at Discharge
· Learn the name of each
medication that is prescribed for you, why you are
taking it, the dosage and the schedule of how you
are to take it.
- Ask if you should avoid any
foods, beverages, other medications or activities.
- Review your discharge instruction
sheet and question anything that is unclear or
confusing.
- Read the label, including warnings.
Make sure it's the medication your doctor ordered.
- Request any written information
available on the medication.
- Report any reactions, side
effects or allergies to your health care provider.
- Keep a list of all medications
you take and take them with you to your doctor.
- Make sure that each of your
doctors is aware of medications that other doctors
have prescribed for you.
- Question anything that does
not seem right. Be alert to unexpected changes.
- If you are having problems
with a medication, call your doctor.
Understanding Your Procedure
Make sure you understand what will happen if you
are having a procedure. Research has shown that
patients who are informed about their procedure
can better work with their doctors to make the right
decisions. Your doctor and you will have discussed
the possible benefits and risks involved in the
procedure you are about to have.
Checking the Correct Surgical
Site
There are multiple checks in place to confirm your
surgical site to assure the correct procedure. If
your procedure involves left or right side, your
doctor will mark the correct site with a marking
pen on the day of surgery. Help us out. Point out
the correct side of your surgery.
After Your Procedure
You will be given medications during your surgery/procedure
that may affect your ability to remember what happened.
Therefore, you may not recall that your doctor and
anesthesiologist talked with you after your procedure.
Your family will be informed when your procedure
is over. You may call your doctor or discuss the
results at the first office visit.
Test Results
Make sure you get the results of all tests and procedures.
Ask the doctor or nurse when and how you will get
the results. Don't assume the results are okay.
If you do not hear anything, call the doctor and
ask questions.
Security
We provide 24-hour security staff who make frequent
rounds. Security staff is also available to escort
visitors to their cars by calling extension 47604
