• Three Questions You Must Ask
• Speak Up
• Smoking and Your Health
• Advance Directives

 

1. What is my main problem?
2. What do I need to do?
3. Why is it important for me to do this?

If you still don't understand, ask again. Here is more information on doctor patient communication.

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The Speak Up Initiative

In March 2002, The Joint Commission, together with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), launched a national campaign to urge patients to take a role in preventing health care errors by becoming active, involved and informed participants on the health care team. The program features brochures, posters and buttons on a variety of patient safety topics. Speak Up TM encourages the public to:

• Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don't understand, ask again. It's your body and you have a right to know.
• Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you're getting the right treatments and medications by the right health care professionals. Don't assume anything.
• Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing, and your treatment plan.
• Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.
• Know what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common health care errors. www.medicationtoolkit.org
• Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that has undergone a rigorous on-site evaluation against established state-of-the-art quality and safety standards, such as that provided by Joint Commission.
• Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.

More information is available at www.jointcommission.org/PatientSafety/SpeakUp/about_speakup.htm

Smoking and Your Health

Smoking is a risk factor for many diseases including cancer, heart attack, heart failure and stroke. Quitting smoking can reduce the risk of getting these diseases. There are many resources in South Carolina that can help you to quit smoking. In some cases, resources to help you quit smoking may be available free of charge or paid for by your insurance.

On December 8, 2006, the Board of Trustees of the South Carolina Hospital Association passed a resolution encouraing all member hospitals to go tobacco-free campus wide by November 15, 2007. as a result, the vast majority of hospitals in the state have gone to tobacco-free campuses. The remaining hospitals are likely to implement similar policies in the near future. In addition, the South Carolina Hospital Association went tobacco-free in its building and on its grounds on July 1, 2007.

www.scdhec.gov/health/chcdp/tobacco/quitforkeeps.htm

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Advance Directives

One of the most powerful actions consumers can take is to take control of their health care decisions before they no longer have the ability to do so. Completing an Advance Directive assures that one's wishes will be followed. 

Every adult age 18 or older should:

• Complete a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or Living Will
• Discuss health care wishes with family and health care providers.
• Select another person to make health care decisions on his or her behalf if unable

An advance directive is a gift to your family and friends as it makes hard times easier if they know your wishes.

To obtain advance directives forms and more information, click here.

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