When a loved one is hospitalized for illness, surgery, or medical treatment, it’s normal to feel uncertain about how to help. While you may not be part of the clinical team, your support plays an essential role in your loved one’s care and recovery. There are many meaningful ways to assist, including monitoring medications and communicating with staff, as well as advocating for proper treatment. Knowing how to support a hospitalized family member can help prevent medical errors, reduce stress, and improve the overall hospital experience. Below, we outline practical steps for hospital patient advocacy and ensuring your loved one receives the care they deserve.
How to Support a Loved One in the Hospital
When your loved one is in the hospital, her care and comfort are your top concerns. You may not be a doctor, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help in other ways. By being attentive, present, and speaking up when necessary, you can help prevent medical errors and ease the nervousness and tension your loved one may feel. Here are some ways you can support your loved one:
- Be your loved one’s advocate. All patients benefit from having someone advocate on their behalf. “A family caregiver who can act as a thoughtful advocate – asking the right questions, keeping track of hospital personnel and their directives, monitoring medications – can make all the difference and ensure a comfortable, safe, and hopefully brief hospital stay.
- Learn about your loved one’s condition, treatments, and procedures. You will know what to expect and what side effects to look out for, and gain a better understanding of the prognosis.
- Be present when doctors or nurses are in the room. Speak up if you have questions about a treatment, test, or diagnosis.
- Keep an up-to-date list of medications (including dosages and recommended frequencies) that your loved one takes to ensure there are no contraindications or other medication mistakes.
- Take notes when speaking to the doctor. Have a pen and paper to jot down notes when the doctor or nurses make their rounds.
- Ensure that everyone who visits washes their hands. Good hygiene can significantly reduce the spread of germs and the all-too-common hospital-acquired infections.
How to Report Poor Medical Care in a Hospital
If you or your loved one experienced substandard treatment, a medical error, or neglect during a hospital stay, it is important to understand how to report poor medical care. Patients and family members have the right to voice concerns and pursue accountability when something goes wrong. You can start by filing a complaint with the hospital’s patient advocacy or patient relations department. In Ohio, formal complaints can also be submitted to the Ohio Department of Health, which investigates concerns regarding hospital care. Additionally, you may report safety violations to The Joint Commission, an independent organization that accredits hospitals nationwide.
If you suspect that medical negligence led to serious harm or injury, consider speaking with an experienced medical malpractice attorney. Taking action not only helps your loved one but may also prevent future harm to other patients.
What if there was a significant mistake with my loved one’s care?
Being in the hospital is stressful enough, but when a loved one suffers due to a medical error or negligent care, the experience can become devastating. Sadly, hospital mistakes are more common than many realize, and they can lead to serious injuries, long-term complications, or even wrongful death.
If you believe your loved one has suffered due to hospital negligence, it’s important to speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. You may be able to pursue compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages related to inadequate or negligent care.
At Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault, our trusted medical malpractice lawyers in Ohio have decades of experience holding hospitals and healthcare providers accountable.
📞 Call 419-843-6663 or complete our online contact form for a free case evaluation. We’re here to help you seek justice for your loved one.
Drew became a member of Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault in 2008 and has dedicated 39 years to the practice of law, specializing in personal injury, medical malpractice, and insurance bad faith claims. He holds licenses in both Ohio and Michigan and has successfully represented clients in a variety of legal settings, including U.S. District Courts, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Claims Court. Drew is widely regarded for his unwavering commitment to seeking justice on behalf of his clients and rectifying the injustices they have faced.
