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Skills to Use in the Hospital

When you need to be in the hospital, there are things you can do to improve the quality of the care you receive. But if you are very sick, ask a trusted family member or a friend to help watch out for your best interests.

  • Ask "why?" Don't agree to anything unless you have a good reason. Agree only to those procedures that make sense for you.
  • Provide an extra level of quality control. Check medicines, tests, injections, and other treatments to see if they are correct. Ask people to wash their hands before they touch you. Your diligence can improve the quality of the care that you receive.
  • Work with a discharge planner to help you leave the hospital safely and get the right care after that. For more information, see the topic Hospital Discharge Planning.
  • If you get an itemized bill, check it, and ask about any charges you don't understand.
By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Brian D. O'Brien, MD - Internal Medicine
Last Revised April 19, 2011

Last Revised: April 19, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Brian D. O'Brien, MD - Internal Medicine

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