Speak Up! It May Help Fight Medical Errors NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - As part of a nationwide campaign to curb medical errors, a leading healthcare safety group is urging patients to speak up about their medical questions. During Patient Safety Awareness Week March 9-15, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations will launch its second annual "Speak Up" program. The program's goal is to improve healthcare quality and empower people to participate in decisions about their medical care. Patients will receive brochures and medical professionals in hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices and pharmacies will wear buttons inviting people to ask questions. "Sometimes people may feel intimidated to ask questions," Cathy Barry-Ipema, spokesperson for the Joint Commission, told Reuters Health. "So we want to say that it is fine. It is OK. Healthcare organizations want you to ask questions. It is important." Nearly 100,000 people die each year as a result of medical mistakes, according to recent statistics. Through a medical error database, the Joint Commission tracks mistakes from nearly 17,000 healthcare organizations that report the information voluntarily. Poor communication and patient misidentification could lead to medication and surgical errors, which were among the "major" problems seen, Barry-Ipema said. She noted that research has shown the more involved patients are the more likely they are to have good outcomes. [03/10/2003; Reuters Health] Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.