How to SURVIVE your next HOSPITAL stay

The one thing you expect from your “medical care” is… y’know… CARE.

It’s right there in the name!

Yet the latest research warns that far too many Americans in hospitals AREN’T getting the “care” part of that equation.

They’re barely even getting the “medical” part, when it comes down to it.

They’re getting the shaft!

And if you don’t pay attention…

This could happen to YOU or YOUR LOVED ONES… next time one of you is LAID UP in the hospital recovering from illness, heart attack, surgery, injury, or any of the other common reasons folk end up admitted.

So today, I’m going to share the BIGGEST and MOST FREQUENT medical mistakes…

And how to STAY OUT of the crosshairs.

A new report from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General finds 1 in 4 Medicare patients in hospitals SUFFERED some degree of harm during October 2018.

Just try to picture ANY other industry with that kinda track record.

Imagine a restaurant that POISONS a quarter of its diners… or an airline where 25% of its flights PLUNGE into the sea!

I’m really STUNNED this made it into print – because it makes the “conventional” part of the medical industry look bad.

And I mean, really… REALLY… bad.

Many over the course of that one month were SERIOUS medical mistakes…

And 12% of them were so serious, they led to…

• URGENT life-saving measures
• LONGER stays
• PERMANENT injuries, and/or
• DEATH.

All that, and I haven’t even gotten to the most OUTRAGEOUS part of this — because these WEREN’T acts of God or freak incidents.

In many cases, they were the result of human error!

The study finds that nearly HALF of all hospital screwups were entirely PREVENTABLE…

And if that’s what they’ll ADMIT TO… then I gotta imagine that the TRUE number is far, far higher.

The report calls it “substandard or inadequate care.” I call it CARELESSNESS!

Before going into the hospital for a scheduled visit, Google “hospital safety grade” and plug your facility’s name into the search engine. That’ll give you a heads up about any problems that have been documented.

While you’re IN the hospital, there are some more actions you can take to arm yourself against 3 of the most FREQUENT mistakes:

• Hospital-acquired infections could turn even routine visits into a life-or-death nightmare. Since they’re SO rampant, there’s NO surefire way to avoid them. But you can cut your odds by watching for unnecessary antibiotic use… and asking your doc for a probiotic, to cover your bases.
• Delirium is an absolutely terrifying condition that could include memory loss, delusions, hostility, and more. It’s often caused by over-medication, so watch what drugs they give you… and make sure you ONLY take what’s necessary.
• Drug errors are some of the most common medical mistakes – and they result from sheer negligence. You could be given the wrong dosage… or the wrong drug… even one you’re allergic to… or that could interact with your other meds. Watch everything you’re given.

Of course, you can’t always fend for yourself in the hospital. You’re too busy being sick!

So, make sure there’s a friend or loved one on hand who can keep tabs on everything to ensure you get WHAT you need and WHEN you need it…

And ADVOCATE for you to get you the attention you deserve.

In Your Corner,
Dr. Allan Spreen

Source:
“One in Four Medicare Patients Harmed in Hospitals, Nearly Half Preventable” – MedPage Today (5/13/22)
www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/98701