At Baptist Hospital East, we want to provide you with excellent care in all areas, including patient safety.

Patient safety is a priority, and is heightened by your awareness and involvement. Patients who take part in decisions about their healthcare are more likely to have better results.

Patients at Baptist East are encouraged to become involved in their healthcare. We believe that patient safety can best be achieved when you actively participate in your care, working in partnership with the hospital staff and physicians who care for you.

Many patient safety measures are taken at Baptist East. Before the start of any surgical or invasive procedure, a final verification or "time out" is taken to confirm that the correct patient, procedure and site have been identified.

Before medications are given, procedures started, you are transported (moved from one area of the hospital to another) or blood drawn (or transfused), hospital staff check the patient’s arm bracelet and ask his or her name and date of birth. This is to ensure the correct procedure or medication is linked with the correct patient.

A simple - but effective - method of patient safety is proper hand hygiene. At Baptist East, special alcohol-free gels are used to cleanse hands before and after caring for patients. These dispensers are conveniently located in patient rooms and other care or treatment areas.

When you come to Baptist East for treatment, you can learn more about patient safety when you receive a copy of the "Feel Better, be safe" card.