Patient Safety & Quality | Arriving at Hartford Hospital

Upon arriving at Hartford Hospital, you may have questions and concerns. There are several things you can do to help us address those needs and keep you safe.

Provide Accurate Information

Our hospital staff will ask you questions about your health history and current condition. Describe your condition in detail, giving accurate information so an appropriate diagnosis and plan of care can be developed. Tell your caregivers about all of your symptoms, how long they have lasted, and what you have already done to try to alleviate them.

This information will help caregivers prevent drug reactions. If you happen to have any medications with you, you should give them to the nurse if your family cannot take them home. In addition, tell caregivers about any allergies that you have. Also make sure to mention if you are participating in a research study. This will help you to avoid taking a new medicine that might cause problems.

Ask for Help from Family and Friends

Alerting your family and friends to your condition can allow them to become an advocate for you if you are unable to provide your own information or speak up for yourself. They may also be able to alert medical staff to changes in your condition. Ask for help when you need it!

We encourage you and your family to take part in discussions about your care with your doctor and other caregivers.

“Speak Up” to Help Hartford Hospital Keep You Safe

While you are in the hospital, pay attention to the health care you receive. Speak up if you have questions or concerns! Be sure that you discuss any concerns about your comfort, health, and safety with your nurses and other caregivers.

Hartford Hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) acknowledging the hospital’s quality and safety standards. While you are a patient in the hospital, you can help us to make your care safer by following these JCAHO patient safety tips. Your well-being is our highest priority.

S	peak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don't understand, ask again. It's your body and you have a right to know.

P	ay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you're getting the right treatment and medications by the right healthcare professionals. Don't assume anything.

E	ducate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing, and your treatment plan.

A	sk a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.

K	now what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common healthcare mistakes.

U	se a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of healthcare organization evaluation against established state-of-the-art quality and safety standards, such as that provided by JCAHO.

P	articipate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the healthcare team.

Patient Safety & Quality Information:

Hartford Hospital is proud to be one among the highest-quality hospitals in the United States. Top-quality healthcare and patient safety are central to everything we do at Hartford Hospital. Our mission is to “promote, restore and maintain the health of all the people we serve,” and that means adhering to evidence-based standards of care and always putting patient safety first.

Arriving at Hartford Hospital

Upon arriving at Hartford Hospital, you may have questions and concerns. There are several things you can do to help us address those needs and keep you safe.

During Your Stay

Be an active decision maker about your care. Let caregivers know about your concerns and goals so that everyone can work to meet your needs. Some medical terms can be hard to understand, so ask for terms to be explained. Also, ask questions before and after treatments you have received and the care you have been given to make sure you stay informed.

Discharge

When it is time to leave the hospital, it is important that you understand your discharge plan to ensure your continued safety and comfort

Ethics Consultation Service

Hartford Hospital established its Ethics Committee in 1982, one of the first hospitals in the state to do so.

Performance Measures

Hartford Hospital is dedicated to providing you with up-to-date information on our performance on key process of care standards as set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Joint Commission (our accrediting body). We also provide data for a number of key measures that go beyond those required by CMS.