Campaign urges parents to speak up on kids’ care

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. – The Joint Commission, the national body that accredits hospitals, has launched a campaign to encourage parents to be vigilant about their children’s medical care, ask questions, and be engaged – with doctors, in the hospital and at home.
The program, part of a broader educational initiative called “Speak Up,” aims to protect children from potentially deadly medical errors, which a 2008 study by the National Initiative for Children’s Health Care Quality showed harm 1 in 15 hospitalized children.
The campaign offers questions and answers to help guide parents through a range of scenarios, including how to prepare for a visit to the doctor, how to identify symptoms that require immediate medical attention, how to take medicine safely, and things to be aware of when having a test, going to the hospital or having surgery.
“Speak Up” brochures also are available on pain relief, understanding caregivers, medical tests, preventing medication mistakes, preventing infections and more. &#8226