New Movie Hopes to Save Lives of Patients in U.S. Hospitals
A new film called, "Things you should know before entering the hospital," hopes to save lives by educating people how to take a proactive role in their healthcare, in the event they, or a loved one, have to be hospitalized. As many as 98,000 Americans die each year due to medical errors in the hospital according to the Journal of the American Medical Association which is more deaths than from AIDS, breast cancer or motor vehicle accidents combined. This film gives viewers a step-by-step guide based on the advice of experts and experiences of real patients. It contains important advice on how a patient and their advocate can help avoid medical errors.
CHICAGO, IL (PRWEB) July 26, 2005 -– A new film called, “Things you should
know before entering the hospital,” hopes to save lives by educating people how
to take a proactive role in their health care, in the event they, or a loved
one, have to be hospitalized.
As many as 98,000 Americans die each year
due to medical errors in the hospital according to the Journal of the American
Medical Association which is more deaths than from AIDS, breast cancer or motor
vehicle accidents combined. This film gives viewers a step-by-step guide based
on the advice of experts and experiences of real patients. It contains important
information on how a patient and their advocate can help avoid medical
errors.
It addresses questions such as: How do you avoid wrong-site
surgery? Why is hand washing so important? Why do you need an advocate? How do
you avoid medication errors? How do you become an advocate? Plus much more,
including: “How to avoid infection.” Reports estimate that as many as two
million patients contract an infection from U.S. hospitals or medical centers
each year accounting for 90,000 deaths.
“Human error is a fact in health
care just as in the rest of life, and we all must be educated on what to be
watchful of regarding things that might go wrong,” said Martin J. Hatlie, Esq.,
President of Partnership for Patient Safety. “The film, Things you should know
before entering the hospital, is an exceptional safety guide for everyone who is
a patient or takes care of one. Watch it and learn what we all need to know to
prevent injuries and save lives.”
The film should be viewed by the
patient as well as their family and friends. It stresses the importance of
having someone with you around the clock as your advocate for the entire length
of your hospital stay. Available on DVD and video tape for $29.95 at www.patientsafetyvideo.com, Things you should know before
entering the hospital gives valuable insight into the potential hazards of the
hospitalization experience without instilling fear or blame. The film is direct,
to the point and narrated by Emmy-award-winning actor and comedian Ben Hollis.
Ben's affable approach engages viewers through his unique sense of compassion
and caring humor. Most significantly, it educates and informs. A convenient
checklist is included in each DVD/video so that patients can take it with them
when they go into the hospital.
“This is an important film with a
powerful message that all consumers need to hear,” explained Leonard Lamkin,
Executive Director, Chicago Patient Safety Forum. The Chicago Patient Saftey
Forum is a community-based network whose purpose is to facilitate innovative
system approaches to understanding and improving patient safety in the Chicago
metropolitan area.
Dawn V. Gay, a prominent networker and health care
consultant, is initiating a campaign to have doctors and hospitals share this
important message with patients that have entered the hospital and advocates
that physicians also give this film to their patients before they enter the
hospital.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each DVD/video from
patientsafetyvideo.com is being donated to Consumers Advancing Patient Safety
(CAPS), a nonprofit organization established in 2003 as a collective voice for
individuals, families and healers who wish to prevent harm in health care
encounters through partnership and collaboration. CAPS envisions creating a
health care system that is safe, compassionate and just. Their website,
patientsafety.org, is a good source for patient safety information as is www.chicagopatientsafety.org.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb265720.htm