Healthy Happenings

Wound Treatment is Here!

Great River Wound and Hyperbaric Center

1520 North Division Street
Blytheville, AR 72315

611 West Lee Avenue
Osceola, AR 72315

Call: 870-838-7317

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Speak Up About Your Care

The Joint Commission
●If you don't understand something or if something doesn't seem right.
●If you speak another language and would like a translator.
●If you need medical forms explained.
●If you think you're being confused with another patient.
●If you don't recognize a medicine or think you're about to get the wrong medicine.
●If you are not getting your medicine or treatment when you should.
●About your allergies and reactions you've had to medicines.

Pay Attention
●Check identification (ID) badges worn by doctors, nurses and other staff.
●Check the ID badge of anyone who asks to take your newborn baby.
●Don't be afraid to remind doctors and nurses to wash their hands.

Educate Yourself
●So you can make well-informed decisions about your care.
●Ask doctors and nurses about their training and experience treating your condition.
●Ask for written information about your condition.
●Find out how long treatment should last, and how you should feel during treatment.
●Ask for instruction on how to use your medical equipment.

Advocates (family members and friends) Can Help
●Give advice and support - but they should respect your decisions about the care you want.
●Ask questions, and write down important information and instructions for you.
●Make sure you get the correct medicines and treatments.
●Go over the consent form, so you all understand it.
●Get instructions for follow-up care, and find out who to call if your condition gets worse.

Know About Your New Medicine
• Find out how it will help.
• Ask for information about it, including brand and generic names.
• Ask about side effects.
• Find out if it is safe to take with your other medicines and vitamins.
• Ask for a printed prescription if you can't read the handwriting.
• Read the label on the bag of intravenous (IV) fluid so you know what's in it and that it is for you.
• Ask how long it will take the IV to run out.

Use A Quality Health Care Organization That
●Has experience taking care of people with your condition.
●Your doctor believes has the best care for your condition.
●Is accredited, meaning it meets certain quality standards.
●Has a culture that values safety and quality, and works every day to improve care.

Participate In All Decisions About Your Care
●Discuss each step of your care with your doctor.
●Don't be afraid to get a second or third opinion.
●Share your up-to-date list of medicines and vitamins with doctors and nurses.
●Share copies of your medical records with your health care team.

The goal of Speak Up™ is to help patients and their advocates become active in their care.
Speak Up™ materials are intended for the public and have been put into a simplified (i.e., easy-to-read) format to reach a wider audience. They are not meant to be comprehensive statements of standards interpretation or other accreditation requirements, nor are they intended to represent evidence-based clinical practices or clinical practice guidelines. Thus, care should be exercised in using the content of Speak Up™ materials. Speak Up™ materials are available to all health care organizations; their use does not indicate that an organization is accredited by The Joint Commission.