A Note to the Public about Covid-19
from the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety
The pandemic has changed the way that people think about their health and how they access health services. For some, their healthcare journey may look quite different now than it did before the pandemic. Now, more than ever, advocating for yourself and your loved ones is a top priority.
The Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety believes that Manitobans are in the best position to advocate for themselves and their loved ones.
This means being involved:
• Have a healthcare plan.
• Ask questions and clarify what you do not understand.
• Know and show your medication card.
• Become a team player with your healthcare providers.
On this page you will find suggestions for how to carry out these important actions that will contribute to your safety as patients.
If you are not ill or having health challenges, you may not think of yourself as a “patient.” However, at the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety, we use this term to mean people who have, or will in the future, access a healthcare provider in any setting. Examples are:
• the lab to get blood taken
• a clinic where you have an appointment with your nurse, physician, or anyone providing health services
• a pharmacy to get prescriptions or over the counter medication
• an X-ray department at a community location
• the emergency department
This means that everyone can benefit from you planning ahead and being involved when you are in any setting that provides health services.
Be sure to follow the advice of our public health officials about how to prepare and prevent COVID-19.
Reposted from June 2020
