Patient Advocacy
Speak Up!
The Joint Commission together with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched a national campaign to urge patients to take an active role in preventing health care errors by becoming active, involved and informed participants on the health care team. The SpeakUp Program encourages the public to:
• Speak up if you have questions or concerns and if you don’t understand, ask again. It's your body and you have the right to know.
• Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you’re getting theright treatments and medications by the right health care professionals. Don't 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.
• Know what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common health care errors.
• Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center or other type of health care organization that has undergone a rigorous on-site evaluation against established state-of-the-art quality and safety standards, such as that provided by The Joint Commission.
• Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.
In the event that you or your family members have any concerns about patient care or safety, you have the right to voice your concerns without fear or reprisal. We assure you that each concern or suggestion will be directed to the appropriate staff as well as shared with Cheboygan Memorial Hospital Administration.
To do this, please notify your caregiver or the nurse manager of the unit immediately, or phone CMH Quality and Patient Safety at (231) 627-1230. If unable to meet your needs, he/she will contact the appropriate person to resolve your issues.
Additionally, any person may submit a concern or complaint about the quality of care provided by a health care facility to the following agencies. (Note: all concerns or complaints are considered confidential and/or can be submitted anonymously.)
The Michigan Department of Community Health
Bureau of Health Systems
"Complaint Investigation Unit"
P.O. Box 30664
Lansing, MI 48909
Telephone: 1-800-882-6006
--------------------------------------
The Joint Commission Office of Quality Monitoring
Joint Commission
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Telephone: 1-800-944-6610
Fax: 1-630-792-5636
E-mail: complaint@jointcommission.org
