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Joint Commission unveils new patient rights campaign

Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 12, 2007

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The Joint Commission last week kicked off a new national campaign to educate patients about their rights when receiving medical care. "Know Your Rights" is part of the accreditor's Speak Up program, which urges consumers to take an active role in their care. Patients who ask questions and are aware of their rights have a greater chance of getting the care that they need when they need it, according to the Joint Commission. "Know Your Rights" provides tips to help people become more involved in their treatment, thus improving the safety and quality of care received. The campaign advises patients that they will: have a right to be informed about the care they will receive get information about care in their preferred language know the names of their caregivers receive treatment for pain receive an up-to-date list of current medications expect that they will be heard; and treated with courtesy and respect The free Speak Up brochure on patient rights is available at www.jointcommission.org. Other Speak Up brochures are available on topics including understanding medical tests, preventing medication mistakes, preventing infections, and avoiding wrong-site surgery.

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