March 9, 2010
Press Contact: Shelley Lotenberg
516-572-6055
Shelley@numc.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NUHEALTH SYSTEM CELEBRATES NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO IMPROVE PATIENT SAFETY AT LOCAL LEVEL

East Meadow, NY……Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the NuHealth System, announced that the NuHealth System is participating in the celebration of National Patient Safety Awareness Week, which runs from March 7th thru March 13th, 2010.

“National Patient Safety Awareness Week is a national observance sponsored by the National Patient Safety Foundation, as an education and awareness campaign, to improve patient safety at the local level, and we, at the NuHealth System are committed to assisting in elevating our patients’ and employees safety awareness,” stated Gianelli.

Gianelli stressed the importance of increased safety awareness along with well informed patients and employees, every day of the year: “Our staff is to be commended for working diligently to improve patient safety and care by emphasizing topics which include preventing infections, preventing medication mistakes, avoiding wrong site surgery, recovering after leaving the hospital, understanding medical tests, understanding what your caregiver says, preparing to become a living organ donor, and preventing errors in care.”

NuHealth’s executive vice president for medical affairs, Steven J. Walerstein, MD, FACP, added: “National Patient Safety Awareness Week is particularly relevant because of our successful efforts to improve patient safety and patient care over the past few years. This is an opportune time to thank our staff that works diligently, every day of the year, to ensure patient safety.’

The Joint Commission’s complimentary award winning Speak Up™ brochures </GeneralPublic/Speak+Up/> are available online for our patients, families and employees (click on link below.) All of the Speak Up™ brochures are available in an easy-to-read format and are also available in Spanish.
The Speak Up™ campaign which the NuHealth System, in conjunction with the Joint Commission is promoting, urges patients to:

Speak up if you have questions or concerns. If you still don't understand, ask again. It's your body and you have a right to know.
Pay attention to the care you get. Always make sure you're getting the right treatments and medications by the right health care professionals. Don't assume anything.
Educate yourself about your illness. Learn about the medical tests you get, and your treatment plan.
Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate (advisor or supporter).
Know what medicines you take and why you take them. Medicine errors are the most common health care mistakes.
Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that has been carefully checked out. For example, The Joint Commission visits hospitals to see if they are meeting The Joint Commission’s quality standards.
Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.

For additional information on the campaign to create safety awareness, please visit: http://www.jointcommission.org/GeneralPublic/Speak+Up/