SPEAK UP is the acronym for ...

Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don’t understand, ask again. It is your body and you have a right to know.

|0x95|Your health is too important to worry about being embarrassed if you don’t understand something that your doctor, nurse or other health care professional tells you.

|0x95|Don’t be afraid to ask about your safety. If you’re having surgery, for example, ask the doctor to mark the area that is to be operated on so that there’s no confusion in the operating room.

|0x95|Don’t be afraid to tell the nurse or doctor if you think you are about to receive the wrong medication.

|0x95|Don’t hesitate to tell the healthcare professional if you think he or she has confused you with another patient.

Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you are getting the right treatments and medications by the right health care professionals. Do not assume anything.

>Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing, and your treatment plan.

Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.B>Know what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common health care mistakes.

Use a hospital, clinic, surgery centre or other type of health care organisation that has undergone rigorous on-site evaluation against established,state-of-the-art quality and safety standardsParticipate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the centre of the healthcare team.