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Patient Safety
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Personal Health Issues

Patient Safety

You can help prevent medical errors and improve your health outcomes by becoming an active and informed member of your health care team.

Reducing the Risk of Medical Errors

You can help prevent medical errors by being an active member of your health care team. Research shows that patients who are more involved with their care tend to get better results. To reduce the risk of medical errors, you can:

  • Ask questions if you have doubts or concerns. Take a relative or friend to your doctor appointment to help you ask questions and understand answers.
  • Make sure you understand what will happen if you need surgery.
  • Tell your health care providers about all the medicines you take, including over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements. Tell them if you have any allergies or bad reactions to anesthesia. Make sure you know how to take your medications correctly.
  • Get a second opinion about treatment options.
  • Keep a copy of your own medical history.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Frequently Asked Questions

To prevent medication errors, maintain a single, up-to-date list of all substances you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Bring this list, or the actual pill bottles, to every medical appointment. Do not assume that a new provider knows what your previous providers prescribed. Ask your pharmacist to review your list for potential interactions before you start any new medication. If you are seeing multiple specialists, ensure they are all aware of the full medication profile to avoid duplicate therapies or dangerous combinations.
Signs of a potential medical error or adverse event include unexpected or worsening pain, fever, excessive bleeding, redness or swelling at the incision site, confusion, or shortness of breath. If you notice that your symptoms are not improving as expected or are getting worse, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Do not wait for your scheduled follow-up appointment if you feel something is seriously wrong. Keep a log of your symptoms, including when they started and how they change, to help your provider assess the situation accurately.
Before surgery, you should ask about the specific risks associated with your procedure, including the likelihood of infection, bleeding, or anesthesia complications. Ask how the surgical team will verify the correct patient, procedure, and body site (the "time-out" process). Inquire about the plan for pain management and what signs of complications you should watch for at home. Additionally, ask about the expected recovery timeline and who to contact if you experience unexpected symptoms. It is also critical to confirm that your allergies, especially to anesthesia or antibiotics, are clearly documented in your chart.
Seeking a second opinion is a valid patient safety strategy, especially for major surgeries, cancer treatments, or diagnoses with significant long-term implications. It helps verify the diagnosis and ensures that the proposed treatment is the most appropriate option. When seeking a second opinion, bring all relevant medical records, imaging, and test results to the new provider. This allows the second provider to make an informed assessment without needing to repeat expensive or invasive tests. A second opinion can provide peace of mind or reveal alternative, less invasive treatment options that you may not have considered.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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