I received some sad news today. A friend from college was recently indicted and plead guilty to conspiracy charges relating to one of the DC corruption cases – you know the one, citizen bribes public official, and all on the ship go down too… Well, it reminded me that professionals, more than any other skill or gift, need to serve with integrity.
NURSES – don’t write something in the records you didn’t do. I know it may be a crazy day, but did you really assess that patient for pain or examine the wound before you wrote, “no pain” “no change in wound?”
DOCTORS – please take a few extra minutes, when prescribing medication, to review the chart – make sure there is not a known allergy. Did a different medication work well before? Please explain why a new one is being prescribed, and go the extra step and speak to the patient yourself.
ADMINISTRATION (HEALTH CARE) – non profit or not, I know you have budgets, and botom lines, and maybe even a Bd. to report to, but please do the right thing. Hire more nurses, pay them better – make good health care your priority, not making money.
FAMILY MEMBERS – be present with your sick loved one. Be diligent about their care, take notes, remember who you spoke with about their care – write it down if necessary.
ATTORNEYS (couldn’t leave them out today) – return phone calls, don’t take cases you know little about, and always be compassionate, after all, you are “counselors” at law too.
My hope is that if we all act and serve with integrity, less medical errors will occur, more providers hired to do the work – and yup, wouldn’t it be nice if there were no malpractice cases, because there were no errors.