The 5 Words Every Parent Must know BEFORE Bringing their child to a Hospital
by Mary Ellen Mannix • November 10, 2010 • James's Project, medical errors, patient advocacy, pediatric patient safety • 2 Comments
If you are a parent of a child who is (or in the future may be) hospitalized for any reason(that is just about every parent in the States), there are five words you need to know before your child gets there – family activated rapid response team.
As described on Boston Children’s Hospital website: “Children’s recognizes that parents of admitted children should have a voice in asking for help if their child is in trouble and they feel the care team isn’t responding to their needs appropriately. As of September 1 (2010), families are able to activate Children’s new Family Activated Rapid Response team. When their child is admitted, parents are informed about this option, and each patient room has a poster with the emergency line and instructions. ”
These family activated rapid response teams are not unique to Boston Children’s. In the past five years, they have become a recognized must for hospitals in patient safety. The industry’s gradual acknowledgement & acceptance of the importance of this safety & quality mechanism came at the cost of many lives. Many, perhaps even mots, that were children.
Helen Haskell who is an internationally recognized patient safety advocate lost her son, Lewis, in 2000 as a result of medical errors. She continuously requested for the assistance of a physician when she sensed something as terribly wrong.
In the days following a routine, elective surgery for a minor issue her pleas were ignored and her son died as a result.
“The Story of Lewis Blackman” – Trailer to the Acclaimed Patient Safety Film from SolidLine Media on Vimeo.
Lewis was just one of countless others. It is time to stem this tide. The family activated rapid response team can help.
Hospitals that initially feared an overuse or abuse of the team by families, found that they were wrong. These teams are rarely called upon. Perhaps families do not fully understand their right and the clinicians need to fully utilize this tool.
Parents, this is YOUR child. You do have rights, do not be hesitate to utilize the tools at your disposal at the hospital YOU have employed to help YOU.
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Wow … I'm so grateful you posted this!!! I am a survivor of several Congenital Heart Defects and was almost given the wrong dose of medications several times … I wish my parents had this option instead of signing forms to release the hospital from any liability because my parents decided to give my heart medications to me themselves … I know they saved my life … this woman's story is extremely sad and I can only hope that someone's child is saved because she would not stop fighting for other children and their families!!
Wow … I'm so grateful you posted this!!! I am a survivor of several Congenital Heart Defects and was almost given the wrong dose of medications several times … I wish my parents had this option instead of signing forms to release the hospital from any liability because my parents decided to give my heart medications to me themselves … I know they saved my life … this woman's story is extremely sad and I can only hope that someone's child is saved because she would not stop fighting for other children and their families!!