Patient Safety Awareness Tips

This year, the second week of March is “Patient Safety Awareness Week.” Health professionals across the country will dedicate time to ensuring that healthcare providers and facilities are improving safety in healthcare for patients, those administering care, and the broader healthcare workforce. Just like how we at Liberty HealthShare care about the health of the whole person, we also recognize that for healthcare to be safe, efficient, and even enjoyable, there are steps that can be taken on the part of all involved – including you! Let’s take some time this month to learn about some practical actions you can take to be an excellent patient!

As a Liberty HealthShare member, you have a multitude of helpful tools and resources to help you be an admirable patient. Utilizing these tools not only gives you the opportunity to receive superior care, but additionally doing so helps to protect your fellow members and the sharing power of our community. The first step is to use HST Connect to search for providers and facilities that participate in the PHCS Network. By doing so, you can visit providers who are more likely to recognize fair and reasonable pricing for medical expenses. You also have a wealth of knowledge available to you within the Sharing Guidelines. Being a stellar patient not only benefits you and your provider, but also your fellow sharing members. By familiarizing yourself with the Sharing Guidelines you will be better equipped to make decisions about your healthcare while being active and committed to your broader sharing community - it’s a win-win!

Honesty is the best policy! Let’s say that Jane Doe’s doctor is trying to figure out if, based on her family history and dietary habits, she may be at risk for something like heart disease. Her doctor asks how many fruits and vegetables she eats in a typical week. Well, she looked at a green bean in the grocery store this week, that counts for something, right? If she were to bend the truth and cover up her vegetable avoidance, Jane Doe may not be able to receive the proper care that she needs. While this example is humorous, the underlying truth is entirely serious. If you don’t communicate clearly with your providers about what your health struggles are, your lifestyle (including physical activity and diet), or your family history to the best of your knowledge, you are impeding the quality and efficacy of the care you receive. To be a good patient you must communicate openly and honestly!

Before going to receive care, do some research beforehand. Once you’ve confirmed that a given medical expense is eligible for sharing from consulting the Sharing Guidelines, you can educate yourself on how those treatments or procedures may be appropriate for your specific medical needs. While you should always rely on the expertise of a doctor or provider that you can trust, by arming yourself with knowledge beforehand you allow yourself to be more engaged in your care – something we’ll talk about more in the next section. If you wanted to build a shelf you wouldn’t just go down to your local hardware store, buy random items from random departments, and then begin haphazardly nailing different things together. You’re going to do some research, make sure you’re buying the right materials, and then consult the expertise of a carpenter or handyman. Why should your healthcare be any different? In your quest to be an exemplary patient, you should take the time to educate yourself so you’re better prepared to receive the expertise of your provider and the support of your sharing community!

Finally, a good patient is one who is actively engaged in their care. Healthcare should never be something that, barring the services of first responders for example, just happens to you. At Liberty HealthShare, we encourage you to be an active participant in your healthcare. It’s your journey that you’re walking, and we want to help you traverse that path where faith and healthcare unite. If you sum up everything in this article, the main message is to be engaged! Ask questions, advocate for yourself and your healthsharing community, do research before receiving care, and never hesitate to communicate!

If you’re reading this conclusion, you’re likely a member, or thinking about becoming a member, of the Liberty HealthShare community. This community is powerful - our members who share eligible medical expenses support one another and our employees who are experienced and knowledgeable can offer support every step of the way. But just as the journey of 1,000 miles starts with a single step, the odyssey of great healthcare starts with you being an active and thoughtful patient, and perhaps even going above and beyond what you think would be necessary. It’s important to remember that we are part of a community of believers. Jesus instructed His followers in Matthew to “go the extra mile,” and we should strive to do that not only for ourselves, but for our community! Let’s walk together and be incredible patients!