Infection prevention is everyone's responsibility. Here are the things we do to encourage hygiene and keep our patients safe:

• Hand hygiene is the simplest and most effective way to prevent hospital-borne infections. Antibacterial soap is available in every bathroom.
• Masking and hand gel stations are available throughout UCI Health Douglas Hospital.
• All care providers (e.g., nurses, doctors, therapists) are required to wash their hands before and after they care for you.
• All care providers are required to wear proper personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves, mask, gown) for the duties they are performing.
• Speak up! You have the right to request that your care provider wash his or her hands before caring for you.

Patient identification is crucial for ensuring safety and accuracy. These are the steps we take to ensure we're always treating the correct patient:

• You will be given a wristband upon admission with the following information: name, date of birth, medical record number and visit number.
• Your care provider is required to check you wristband before giving you medications, drawing blood or giving you blood products.
• You also may be asked to give your name to ensure accuracy.

To prevent the wrong tests or procedures from being ordered, we take steps to verify who you are and what you are having done.

Here's how we ensure the accuracy of tests and procedures:

• Your doctor may ask questions to verify your identity and the type of procedure you are going to have.
• You may be asked to identify the site of your procedure.
• You will experience multiple caregivers verifying your identity before medications, procedures, consultations and discussions about your care. This may seem repetitive, but it is for your protection.

Medication safety depends, in part, on close communication with your physician about supplements and drugs you may be taking and any allergies you have. 

Here's how you can ensure the safety of your medications:

• Tell your care provider if you are using any herbal supplements, vitamins or other over-the-counter drugs.
• Tell your care provider if you have a food or drug allergy.
• Ask questions about your prescribed medications.
• Ask for a printed document of your medication to review the benefits and side effects.
• Tell your care provider if you have a problem with any medication, including unusual reactions or concerns about cost.
• Check with your care provider before changing how you take your medications.
• Never share your medication or use drugs prescribed to someone else.
• Store your medications safely away from children and pets.