courtesy of the National Patient Safety Foundation
When you check in at a Harvard Vanguard or other Atrius Health doctor’s office, one of the first things you’re asked to do is verify your name and date of birth. Next, when you are brought to an exam room, the medical assistant asks you the same question. If you need to take any medicine while you’re there…same question. If you go to the lab or to x-ray…”Can you please verify your name and date of birth?” Some of our patients say, “Don’t you know who I am by now?!”
But that’s why we do it – we want to know exactly who you are at every step in the care we are providing you. Leaving no room for uncertainty keeps you safe, which is one of our most critical jobs. We verify your name and date of birth to ensure that you are receiving the treatment that is intended for you. Most importantly, you will be asked for verification prior to receiving a medication or vaccine, before a procedure is performed, and before blood is drawn. This verification provides an additional level of security to ensure that you receive the treatments that are intended for you and not someone else.
Atrius Health will recognize National Patient Safety Awareness Week (NPSAW) March 4th through 10th. The 2012 theme is “Be Aware for Safe Care,” and the goal is to promote awareness and provide education to patients and caregivers on improving patient safety. NPSAW is an annual event that is led by the National Patient Safety Foundation, which was founded in Boston in 1997. The week is celebrated nationally and internationally.
While it may be obvious that care providers play a big role in patient safety, what may be less obvious is the crucial role that patients, patient advocates and family members play in ensuring patient safety. Patients need to feel empowered and become engaged members of the care team. So the next time you are at the doctor’s office, and you are asked to verify your name and date of birth several times, answer with the knowledge that you are actively engaged in keeping yourself safe.
To learn more about patient safety, here are some online resources for you: