Denise Colon has been a leading hospital information technology specialist for more than 20 years. She was a victim of a hospital error, which cost her one of her kidneys. She wrote a book about her experience: “Hospital Survivor: What You Need To know To Avoid Infection, Disease, and Death From Your Next Hospital Stay.”
According to Scientific American Magazine, preventable medical mistakes and infections are responsible for about 200,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.
Many people, including President Barack Obama, have advocated for a broader adoption of electronic medical records to save lives.
Five Things You Must Never Do During A Hospital Visit:
1. Don’t miss your “time out.” Before surgery, speak to every clinician who will be in the operating room, inform them of allergies, medications and be clear about what your procedure is.
2. Remember “The 5 Rights:” the right medicine, patient, dosage, route, and time.
3. Don’t forget about catheters and needles, these items are breeding grounds for infection.
4. Be sure to check wrist-band inventory, which should list your medications.
5. Inform hospital staff of your last meal before procedure.
Denise’s L.I.V.E. Formula for Hospital Survival:
Listen
Inspect
Verify
Engage
Denise Colon will have a book signing today at 4 p.m. at Cull Books, which is located on 677 Blue Hills Ave., Hartford.
For more information on the author, go to the website: www.hospitalsurvivor.com.