Patient Safety

Catawba Valley Medical Center Was Designed for Patient Safety

Catawba Valley Medical Center has been recognized as a Women’s Choice Award Winner for 2020 for Patient Safety for providing the highest level of care and commitment to our patients’ health and well-being.

Thank you for choosing Catawba Valley Medical Center to meet your hospital needs. Although we understand no one wants to be hospitalized, our goal is to make your stay with us as comfortable and safe as possible.

We encourage patients and families to become active participants in their care. Speak Up™ is a safety initiative created by the Joint Commission that encourages patients to talk to hospital staff if you have questions or concerns. Far too often, patients neglect to mention discomfort or pain to their doctor and end up in worse condition because their caretakers did not know they had concerns that needed addressing. We strive to do everything we can to let patients know it’s okay to speak up about your thoughts and concerns regarding your care.

Tell Us Anything You Think We Need to Know

One of the most important things you can do is come with a complete list of the medications you currently take, including any vitamins or food supplements. If you don’t have a list, bring your medication bottles. We need to make sure we understand medications you currently take and what they’re for. If your medications are changed, make sure you understand why.

Always be sure to speak up when you need to:

• If you take recreational drugs, this may have an impact on your treatment. We are not the police, please tell us anything that can influence how your care proceeds.
• We take confidentiality very seriously. Please do not hesitate to speak out regarding problems you may see as embarrassing.
• Do you feel comfortable with the staff? Our team is here to look out for you. If you feel you have been mistreated in any way, we want to know so we can address the issue.

Do not hesitate to reach out to our staff if you feel they’ve neglected something. Make sure your caregivers introduce themselves and have an identification badge. They should verify your name and date of birth prior to providing any medication or treatment. Do they wash their hands? If they forget, remind them.

We Are Here to Cater to Your Needs

Being an active participant in your care will help improve your safety and long-term health. If you or your loved one’s condition changes rapidly, call 3911 for our Rapid Response Team.

If you have concerns you may not be able to be an active participant in your care, ask a trusted family member or friend to accompany you during your hospital stay. It does not matter how you tell us, so long as we know every concern you have about your medical, we can better protect your safety and health.