Everyone has a role in making healthcare safe. As the patient, you play a vital role by being an active, involved and informed member of your healthcare team.
For safety reasons, before staff draw blood, administer blood products, and administer medications or treatments, they will verify your name, birthdate and allergies.
Some disease processes necessitate the use of special precautions before entering a patient room. A stop sign will be placed outside the door to the room to indicate that a nurse needs to advise you if items such as a mask or gown are needed to protect either the patient or you. For everyone's safety, please adhere to the information that is provided.
Clean Your Hands
Avoiding contagious diseases like strep throat and the common cold or flu is important to everyone. Here are some easy things you can do to fight the spread of infection.
- Use soap and warm water. Rub your hands really well for at least 20 seconds. Watch our 'Don't Be This Person in the Bathroom' video.
- Clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, even they do not look dirty. Rub the sanitizer all over your hands, especially under your nails and between your fingers, until your hands are dry.
- Clean your hands before touching or eating food.
- Clean your hands after you use the bathroom, take out the trash, change a diaper, visit someone who is ill or play with a pet.
In an effort to protect you, your healthcare providers will wash their hands and wear gloves during certain procedures.
Cover Your Cough
Many diseases are spread through sneezes and coughs. When you sneeze or cough, the germs can travel 3 feet or more! Cover your mouth and nose to prevent the spread of infection to others.
- Use a tissue! Keep tissues handy at home, at work and in your pocket. Be sure to throw away used tissues and then clean your hands.
- If you don't have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose with the bend of your elbow or hands. If you use your hands, wash them right away.
- If you are sick, stay away from other people. Stay home if you have a fever. Call work or school and tell them you are sick.
- When you go for medical treatment, call ahead and ask if there's anything you can do to avoid infecting people in the waiting room.
While no active Ebola cases have been identified within the greater KC area, North Kansas City Hospital takes pride in assuring you that we are prepared for the possibility of a patient coming to our facility who needs appropriate screening and/or care.
Ebola Q & A.