WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Beyond reading everything you can about the hospital where you’re going to stay, ask a lot of questions of the administrators or admitting doctors to find out if the hospital is following best practices. Ask your friends and family if they know anyone who has ever stayed in the hospital, and ask those people how they were treated and if they were satisfied that they received an excellent standard of care.

You also can take precautions once you are admitted. Make sure that all staffers and visitors touching you have thoroughly cleaned their hands, and ask at least daily if you can have tubes or catheters, common sites of infection, removed. If you’re going into surgery, let your doctor know about any pre-existing conditions that may complicate surgery, like diabetes, and whether you’ll be shaved in any particular area (shaving can nick you, allowing bacteria to enter).

If you are being treated for heartburn, you may receive drugs called proton pump inhibitors. These carry a risk of causing pneumonia and intestinal infections. Question their use and ask when you can stop taking them.

Before leaving the hospital, make sure you thoroughly understand your medicine schedules and how to treat any surgical wounds. Get the directions in writing and make sure there’s a contact number available. This may come in handy if you develop an infection after leaving the hospital.