Patient Safety

Everyone has a role in making health care safe.  That includes doctors, health care executives, nurses and many health care technicians.  Health care organizations all across the country are working to make health care safe.  As a patient, you can make your care safer by being an active, involved and informed member of your health care team.

Speak Up™ Program

When patients and families are knowledgeable and involved, they become effective partners in reducing healthcare risks.

We have implemented The Joint Commission’s award winning program—Speak UP™—designed to encourage patients’ participation.

Patients should:

• 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 error.

• 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 The Joint Commission.

• Participate in all decisions about your treatment.  You are the center of the health care team.

For more information about our approach to patient safety, visit Dana-Farber’s Quality and Patient Safety guidelines.