Speak Up Program

University Hospitals is a firm supporter of the Speak Up™ program, a national patient safety campaign developed by The Joint Commission* and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Speak Up urges patients to help prevent healthcare errors by becoming active, involved and informed participants on their healthcare team. If you or your family has a safety concern, please Speak Up. The Speak Up program—and UH —encourages patients to:

• Speak up if you have questions or concerns. If you still don’t understand, ask again. It’s your body and you have a right to know.
• Pay attention to the care you get. Always make sure you’re getting the right treatments and medicines by the right healthcare professionals. Don’t assume anything.
• Educate yourself about your illness. Learn about the medical tests you get, and your treatment plan.
• Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate, advisor or supporter.
• Know what medicines you take and why you take them. Medicine errors are the most common healthcare mistakes.
• Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center or other type of healthcare organization that has been carefully checked out. For example, The Joint Commission visits hospitals to see if they are meeting The Joint Commission’s quality standards.
• Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the healthcare team.

* The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization, is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare.