Patient Safety: Arm Yourself Against Medication Errors With These Printable Reminder Cards
Sven Gustafson
| 1 min read
Medication errors are one of the most common types of preventable medical mistakes that occur in hospitals. The Institute of Medicine estimates that these errors harm 1.5 million people in the U.S. each year and result in more than $3.5 billion in added health care costs.
One of the best ways you can ensure your own safety when receiving care is by knowing exactly what medications you are taking.
So in the spirit of Patient Safety Awareness Week, we made these printable reminder cards that you can print out and keep in your wallet. They offer great suggestions for questions to ask your doctor about the medications he prescribes you as well as a convenient way to keep track of which drugs you may already be taking.
If you’re a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan member, you can find drug coverage and claims information online. And don’t miss our post on 5 ways to be an activated, safe patient.
Learn more about the issue in this video from Consumer Reports:
Photo by Mr. T in DC
