St. Clair Hospital

St. Clair Hospital believes that every patient has the right and responsibility to be aware of the care they are receiving, understand their care, and take part in decisions about their treatment.

The health care professionals at St. Clair Hospital encourage patients to become active participants in their treatment by including them in decision making and by sharing information with them so they can make informed, responsible decisions.

A Commitment to Safety

St. Clair Hospital is dedicated to ensuring that every patient’s stay is as safe as possible. Employees focus on safety during every patient interaction by:

Always introducing themselves to patients; Wearing a Hospital-issued employee identification badge and ensuring that the badge is visible to patients; Washing their hands prior to patient contact; Checking each patient’s identification band before distributing medication or beginning an infusion or procedure; Explaining the care patients will receive; and Educating patients about the medications prescribed for them, as well as the medications’ purpose and intended benefits.

Health care employees also visit patients on an hourly basis to:

• Assess and treat pain;
• Ask if patients are comfortable or need to be repositioned;
• Explain procedures and tests that have been ordered and address the reasons for a delay, if necessary;
• Offer bathroom assistance; and
• Ensure that items patients need are within their reach.

The Patient’s Role in Safety

The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) launched a “Speak Up” campaign for patients in 2002 that encourages patients to partner with their health care team and become actively involved in their care and treatment. JCAHO’s Speak Up campaign asks patients to do the following while hospitalized:

• Ask why you are receiving a particular treatment or medication, or why a particular plan of care is recommended.
• Inform a staff member if you see something go wrong or something that almost goes wrong.
• Report any safety concerns you might have to the nursing staff. Patients at St. Clair Hospital may also call the Hospital’s Safety Hotline at 412.942.2273.
• Pay attention to the care, treatments and medications that are ordered for you.
• Educate yourself about your illness and learn about the medical tests you’ll be receiving. Our Health Guide is a great place to start, as well as the Our Services section.
• Read all medical forms and make sure you understand them before signing anything. If you don’t understand, ask a nurse or doctor for clarification.
• Ask a family member or friend to serve as your advocate during your treatment. Thoroughly discuss with them the type of care you want so they can speak on your behalf if you become unable to make decisions.
• Know the medications you take, why you are taking them and when they should be taken.
• Participate in all decisions regarding your health. If you are unable to do so, ask your advocate(s) to speak up in your absence.

To learn more about The Joint Commission’s  “Speak Up Program,” visit http://www.jointcommission.org/PatientSafety/SpeakUp/.

Code Care

St. Clair Hospital is dedicated to patient safety. And because no one knows your loved one better than you, we’ve created a new service—Code Care—for you to call for assistance when something doesn’t seem quite right. Code Care empowers families to call a special phone number (5555) to have medical concerns immediately addressed by our team of professionals.

When should you call Code Care?

• If you believe there is a noticeable medical change in your loved one, and the health care team does not appear to be addressing your concerns.
• If you perceive there is a breakdown in communication or you have uncertainty over what needs to be done.
• If you have unanswered questions about the care of your loved one.

What happens when Code Care is called?

Providing quality health care and a safe environment for patients has been at the foundation of St. Clair Hospital’s mission since it opened its doors in 1954. Code Care is an extension of our commitment to providing quality care. When you call code care, these events will occur:

1. A patient care representative will answer your call.
2. Identify yourself and the patient’s room number.
3. Inform the representative this is a Code Care call.
4. A special team of health care professionals will arrive to address your concerns.

Patient’s Opinion

A patient’s opinion about their experience at St. Clair Hospital is a major part of our quality and patient safety initiative. There are several feedback mechanisms in place to allow you to tell us your opinion:

• Talking to a caregivers.
  If you have any questions or concerns about your care while you are a patient at St. Clair Hospital, please talk to one of the many individuals who are responsible for making your stay a quality and safe experience, including physicians, nurses, therapists, technicians, and other support personnel.
• Patient comment cards.
  Each department and nursing unit has a supply of blank comment cards for you to complete and return to us postage-paid. Each card is reviewed by the Hospital’s President and Chief Executive Officer and other management personnel.
• Mailed surveys.
  St. Clair Hospital uses the national patient satisfaction company Press,Ganey to distribute and tabulate a multi-question survey which is mailed to a randomly-selected group of patients following their discharge. The survey asks questions about many aspects of an inpatient or Emergency Department patient’s experience, including the admission process, tests, treatments and personal issues.