(BPT) - Each year, millions of Americans seek hospital care to
treat a wide range of medical problems - from accidental
injuries to chronic or life-threatening illnesses. While the
majority of patients have positive outcomes, it is imperative to
remember patient safety should be a top priority for everyone.
In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) notes patient
safety is a serious global public health issue. Even in
developed countries such as the United States, as many as one in
10 patients may be harmed while hospitalized. Injury rates are
even higher in developing countries, making patient safety a
high priority around the world. You can take steps to help
ensure your safety whether in the hospital for a planned or
unexpected circumstance. Here are three things to keep in mind
to make your hospital stay as safe as possible: Reduce infection
risks: Hospital infections are a top concern, especially for
surgical patients. According to WHO, hand hygiene is the single
most important measure to reduce health