Helping You Become an Empowered Patient

When you require a stay at Littleton Adventist Hospital, you expect your caregivers to go above and beyond to safeguard your health - but do you take steps to protect yourself?

To enhance safety during your hospital stay:

• Communicate. It is important to understand your treatment plan. Know what medications you are receiving. Ask about the treatment goals for the day. When it is time to go home, make sure you have all the information you need to care for yourself. If you're unclear about anything, ask!
• Make sure your care providers practice proper hand hygiene. This is the best way to prevent the spread of infections. At Littleton Hospital, we are very conscientious about hand hygiene - but if you do not see your caregivers cleaning their hands when entering your room, feel free to ask them to do so.
• Prevent a fall. As a patient in the hospital, you are at increased risk for falling due to medications or surgery, even if you are young and alert. Don't get out of bed on your own unless your nurse has indicated that you can.

From the August 2011 issue of Your Health Your Hospital.