Be your own advocate to increase safety, doctor suggests

Last Updated: Friday, October 20, 2006 | 4:06 PM ET

CBC News

Patients put too much trust in doctors and should take a more active approach to their medical well-being, a health-care safety conference heard Friday.

Health experts from across Canada and around the world are meeting in Vancouver this weekend to attend the Canadian Healthcare Safety Symposium.

Speaking at the event on Friday, Dr. Ward Flemons of Calgary said patients should think of themselves as partners in the health-care process.

"There is the potential to think, 'I don't need to be involved because the professionals are involved,'" Flemons said.

"The correct approach is that we're all in some way a professional. We need to share information and make sure everybody's got the right information."

To become one's own advocate, patients could always keep an up-to-date list of medications on their person, as well as a short medical history of key issues, he suggested. Patients should also remind doctors of any prior medical conditions before any treatment.

Health care is provided in a team setting, even if it looks like a one-on-one relationship between the provider and the patient, Flemons said.

If patients consider themselves part of the team, it can help the flow of communication with doctors, nurses and pharmacists, he added.

People may be reluctant to question their doctor's judgment, but asking may save their lives, Flemons said.

Canada joins WHO's hand-washing campaign

Also on Friday, Canada signed on to the World Health Organization's challenge to promote better patient safety.

Federal Health Minister Tony Clement made the announcement at the conference.

The challenge is aimed at reducing the number of infections that doctors and nurses  pass on in health-care facilities.

Nearly 20 per cent of Canadians will get an infection while in hospital that will extend their stay, cause pain or even kill them.

The simple act of hand-washing could cut those infections in half, said Phil Hassen, the head of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute.

Canadian Patient Safety Week runs until next Friday. The conference wraps up on Saturday.