Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 48)

When Language Is an Issue Gwinnett Medical Center understands how confusing medical care can be, especially when the patient’s native language isn’t English. Many of the patient representatives at GMC facilities speak Spanish, and Gwinnett Medical Center– Duluth has a Korean interpreter on staff. In addition, patients have access to 175 languages and dialects via GMC’s Language Line services. This means patients can speak and receive information in their own language. It is vital for patients and their families to be involved in the healthcare process, whether it is learning more about procedures, medical history, allergies, adverse reactions or medications. Gwinnett Medical Center’s language services can help every patient be his or her own best advocate. More hospital staff are using computers during rounds, so information can be input electronically. That means no more deciphering a doctor’s chickenscratch notes. FEAR: “The hospital won’t remember my allergies!” REALITY: Hospitals now use uniformly colored wristbands for patients: Yellow means the patient is at risk for falls, red means the patient has allergies, and purple denotes a “do not resuscitate” edict requested by the patient. These color codes are standardized, so when staff members leave one hospital to work at another, there will be no chance of misunderstanding. PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHOTOLIBRARY FEAR: “I just know if I check into the hospital, I’ll get some sort of infection!” REALITY: Hospitals are collaborating to standardize checklists, so procedures are uniform and consistent. According to Feldpush, one of the best examples of this centers on catheter-related bloodstream infections. A study of 90 intensive care units in Michigan created a checklist of steps for caregivers to follow when inserting and removing catheters. The result: up to a 66 percent decrease in infections. Afterward, the practice was standardized and shared with hospitals across the country. FEAR: “There are so many people coming and going at a hospital that I won’t be safe.” REALITY: According to Joseph Bellino, past president of the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety, hospitals maintain security staffs to ensure that mishaps don’t occur. The association provides three levels of certiﬁcation for hospital security staff to ensure that ofﬁcers are properly trained, Bellino says. More than 20,000 people have received certiﬁcation. And that’s 20,000 people who can help dispel the myths. FEAR: “My doctor will operate on the wrong limb!” REALITY: You probably have a better chance of getting struck by lightning while cashing in your winning megamillions lottery ticket. Hospitals apply what’s called a “universal protocol,” during which the surgeon literally signs off on the body part being operated on, as do the surgical staff and the patient, checking and rechecking to ensure that the right procedure is being performed on the right area. ONLINE FEAR: “The hospital pharmacy will get my prescriptions wrong!” REALITY: With the advent of technology, the chances of this happening are becoming slimmer. “Hospitals are rapidly implementing electronic systems where medications are bar-coded and coupled with electronic health records that can ﬂag for a clinician or pharmacist a wrong dosage or a potential adverse drug interaction,” Feldpush says. “It’s the implementation of those types of systems that decrease errors.” Gwinnett Medical Center–Duluth serves the Korean community in a variety of ways, including having a Korean interpreter on staff and providing Korean meals to inpatients. Get to know us at gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/duluth. Serving the Korean Community 48 Vim & Vigor · FALL 2 011 http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/duluth

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil's Feature
So Long, Suffering
The Will to Recover
Healthy Hues
The New Survivors
First (Aid) Things First
Find Your Groove
A Healthy Tune
Stay in Circulation
‘X’ Marks the Spot
Pregnancy Predictors
Play It Safe
Prime Time Health
Full Strength
Lifesaving Gift
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center