Condition: Critical (page 6 of 6)

Take Control of Your Care

1. Find out the RN-to-patient ratio. If it's greater than 1 to 4, you may get sub-par care. In intensive care units, the ideal ratio should be 1 to 2.
   
   
2. Check also the ratio of RNs to LPNs. Licensed practical nurses aren't always skilled in all the procedures performed by RNs, such as administering powerful IV medications. Fewer than 4 RNs to every 1 LPN may be a red flag.
   
   
3. Study the report card. This past fall, three heavyweights in health care -- the American Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, and the Association of American Medical Colleges -- launched a program to rate the quality of hospitals. These assessments are based on the treatment of three common but serious medical conditions: heart attack, congestive heart failure and pneumonia. Hospitals participate voluntarily, but so far 1,000 of them are being appraised. The results will be posted at cms.gov.
   
   
4. Locate the nearest magnet. If you can easily check into a magnet hospital, you'd be foolish not to. To see the full list, with locations, go to nursingworld.org/ancc/magnet/magnet2.htm.

   From Reader's Digest - September 2003

    

• Is Your Hospital Gambling With Your Life?
• Your health -- even your life -- is increasingly at risk in hospitals, doctors' offices and outpatient clinics.
• 
• Medical Mistakes
• Millions of medical mistakes happen in the lab. Here's how to protect yourself.
• 
• Protect Your Child From Medical Errors
• 20 preventive tips for parents.
• 
• Reducing Hospital Error Rates
• Can our government help reduce medical errors?
• 
• Secrets of Great Doctors
• An insider's guide to getting the best medical treatment.
• 
• How Doctors Find Good Doctors
• Insider advice for getting the best medical care.
• 
• How to Really Communicate With Your Doctor
• How to get more out of your doctor visit.
•