The Connecticut Center for Patient Safety offers tips for protecting yourself from errors.
Bring an advocate – a friend or family member – for check-in and discharge. Many hospitals have a staff person you can consult. (If you hire your own advocate, get referrals and check credentials.)
Bring a notebook listing all medications, why you take them, who prescribed them, including phone numbers of key personal and medical contacts. When questions arise in the hospital, write them down.
Bring a bottle of hand sanitizer. Place it by your bed to remind yourself and staff to keep hands clean.