Canadian Patient Safety Week 2022

October 24, 2022 - Defence Stories

Canadian Patient Safety Week 2022 runs from October 24 to October 28, 2022, and the theme is “Press play on Safety Conversations”. When we have safety conversations, it changes the way we think about safety. Ask questions, listen, and act. CAF clinics are safe and professional, but with health systems under strain, it’s more important now than ever.

As patients, family members and chains of command, it is important to know that you can and should be asking vital questions of your care providers and being a strong partner in your care.

When presenting to your CF Health Services clinic, feel free to ask your providers questions about your health.  Here a few ideas that may help you to “press play on safety conversations”:

Primary Care

1. What wellness tests should I have?

The primary care practitioners at your CDU are concerned not only with treating illnesses, but with helping you live a healthier, more active life. This means that they want to reduce your chances of ever developing a health problem.

Depending upon your family history and previous medical tests, your primary care practitioner may recommend tests that monitor your:

• Fasting blood sugar
• Cholesterol
• Liver function
• Blood pressure
• Kidney function

If you are at a particular risk for a disease—especially if it runs in your family—one of our primary care physicians can help you reduce the chances of getting it.

2. What is the best exercise plan for me?

When speaking to your primary care practitioner they can help you to start/continue an exercise routine that will be the most beneficial to you. This is especially important if you have health problems or a previous injury.  You can then take these ideas and suggestions to the Personnel Support Program staff and they can build you a program that is right for you.

3. How often should I schedule an appointment?

This depends upon your general health, lab tests and your medical history.

Your primary care practitioner will work with you to determine how often you should schedule an appointment.

4. What is my risk of developing heart disease?

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death of Canadians. Often, those with heart disease don’t know they have it until they have a heart attack.

This is why it is so important for us to assess your risk for heart disease—especially if it runs in your family!

5. Can you explain these test results?

We understand—there are a lot of abbreviations. Terms like HDL and LDL and A1C can be confusing to many. That’s why we encourage you to speak with your primary care practitioner who will go through it piece by piece with you.

6. What is a reliable internet source for information?

It is always tempting for patients to go online and find information, but it’s not always accurate.

“Dr. Google” is not a replacement for reliable information from your primary care practitioner.

We know you’re going to check the internet as well. So it’s important that you are using reputable resources.

While we encourage you to speak with your primary care practitioner about the best internet resources, the following are some general guidelines:

• Look for official sites from national organizations.
• Examine sites from government organizations, which also have accurate information.
• Be wary of any site that proclaims it has an “instant cure” or you should “follow this one rule” for good health.
• Use common sense. Ask yourself, “What are the author’s credentials? Does the site look professional and official?” Remember that some authors may exaggerate their expertise and qualifications.

7. How does my family history affect my health?

This is a very important question to ask.

If you have a close family member with a chronic disease (like diabetes, or high blood pressure) you’re much more likely to develop it yourself. While you can’t change your genes, you can take a proactive approach to your health care.

Medication

Whenever you’re prescribed a new medication, it is important to ask your primary care practitioner to confirm the name and strength of the prescription, how and when to take it, and potential side-effects.  When you pick up a prescription, always ask to speak with the pharmacist to review how to take the medication. This is a safety check that could save your life, or the life of a family member.  Patients are strongly encouraged to engage in their healthcare by asking the following 5 questions:

1. What changes are there in my medication?

Have any medications been added, stopped or changed?  If so, make sure that you ask your primary care practitioner the reason they are prescribing the medication, and request that they record that reason on your prescription. For refills, it is strongly advised to take a look inside the bottle to see if the tablets look the same as those in the last prescription before accepting the medication.  If they don’t…ask “why not?”

2. Which medications should I continue taking?

It is important to confirm which medications you should be taking and for how long you can expect to be taking the prescribed medication. You may need to take the drug for the rest of your life—but there’s a good chance you don’t have to.

It is also important to tell your pharmacist if you are taking any herbal supplements or over-the-counter medications (i.e. ibuprofen, ASA, allergy medications, etc.) as they can react with some prescription medications.

3. What is the proper way to use/take my medications?

It is also important to confirm how much of the medication you should be taking, how often, and whether you should be taking doses at a particular time of day. Also, ask about whether you should be taking the medication with food or on an empty stomach.

Knowing what to do if you miss a dose of prescribed medication—before you leave the pharmacy—can save a lot of aggravation and worry. Getting the details from your pharmacist is essential, because different drugs and dosing schedules may require different catch-up strategies. For some medications, you can skip a dose and just wait until the next. With others – for example, birth control pills – you may need to take the missed dose even if it means doubling up.

4. Will I be monitored to know if the medication is effective?

Make sure that you have the conversation with your primary care practitioner about what to expect and if they will be monitoring you to ensure that it is effective.

5. When should I follow up with my primary care practitioner?

If you are not told when your next appointment should be, make sure you ask the question.  Wait times can be lengthy to book an appointment, so it may be beneficial to know when you will need to be seen so that you can book that appointment in advance with your CDU Clerks.

CF Health Services Group has Patient Safety Officers in place at CAF clinics across the country. Patient Safety Officers work with the Quality and Patient Safety program to support and advance patient safety where care is delivered. To share your ideas for improving patient safety or to obtain information on the Canadian Patient Safety Week 2022 campaign, contact the Patient Safety Officer at your local CAF Health Services Centre or the Quality and Patient Safety program by email at qps-qsp@forces.gc.ca.