For Patients & Families

Patients and families, we need your help to ensure that every patient in our care is kept safe from serious harm. We want to heal you, not hurt you.

An informed family can help reduce the risk of preventable harm—such as infections and medication errors—when at the hospital. You are a critical part of the caregiving team. We want you to take the following actions when visiting our hospitals to help keep your child safe.

• Be an advocate for your child.
• Always ask questions. Raise concerns. Speak up.
• Wash your hands and your child’s hands, and make sure your caretakers wash their hands too.
• Keep the skin around the dressing of an intravenous catheter or a wound clean and dry. Tell your caregiver if it’s not.
• Know your child’s medications, and make sure your caretakers double check that the medication is for your child.
• Be prepared when going home by knowing your child’s medications, treatments, and follow-up visits. Call back to ask questions.

Thanks for partnering with us to keep every child in our hospitals safe.

Learn more about the role of patients and families in patient safety and visit the Institute for Healthcare Improvement online resource center for more information.