At Cooper University Health Care patient safety is a top priority. Cooper's team of experts is focused on several key things to keep you safe during your visit or stay at our facilities.
Infection Prevention
Hospital-acquired infections are infections that develop during the course of a patient's hospitalization. To learn more about the critical work Cooper does to prevent infections click here to learn more.
Medication Safety
Cooper University Health Care is committed to the “seven rights” of safe medication administration – right patient, right drug, right dose, right time, right route, right reason and right documentation.
What we are doing to ensure medication safety
- Computerized Physician Order Entry System: Orders for medications or diagnostic tests are entered into a computer instead of using any kind of handwritten form. The system software also delivers tips, reminders, best practices and automatic alerts about potentially harmful drug interactions or allergies.
- Bar Coding: The system works like bar-code scanner systems in retail stores. However, instead of products, patient medication doses are bar-coded and tracked as the medication travels back and forth among the pharmacy, nurses, physicians, and patients.
- Smart Pumps: Intravenous medications are delivered through “smart pumps” to ensure that the correct dose is administered to the patient at the correct rate.
What you can do to help ensure medication safety
- Ensure that all of your health care providers know about every medication that you are taking, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements, such as vitamins and herbs.
- Notify your doctors and nurses about any medication allergies or side effects you have experienced with medications.
- Ask your doctor why you need to take the medication that is prescribed for you.
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
Pressure ulcers are also called bedsores or decubitus ulcers and can occur in patients who lie in bed or sit in chairs for long periods without moving.
What we are doing to prevent pressure ulcers
- Employing nurses who specialize in skin and wound care.
- Using evidence-based guidelines to prevent and treat pressure ulcers.
- Teaching nurses the best ways to prevent and treat pressure ulcers.
Fall Prevention
A patient fall is an unexpected fall to the floor or an extension of the floor (e.g., chair, bed) during a hospital stay. What we are doing to prevent falls:
- Performing a fall risk assessment for each patient.
- Making hourly rounds on inpatient units.
- Providing patients with no-slip socks.
- Conducting bedside reports.
What the patient can do to prevent falls:
- If you are asked not to get up without assistance, please refrain from doing so. This is for your protection.
- If you don't require assistance to get of out bed, make sure there is a light on where you are and where you are going.
- Ask for help when using the bathroom, getting up or walking around the unit, especially if you are not feeling well.
- Wear non-skid socks or rubber-soled slippers or shoes when walking.
- Sit or stand up slowly. Do not attempt to walk by yourself if you feel weak or unsteady on your feet.
Speak Up
You are an important member of your care team. We encourage you to become part of the team and to work with us. Here’s how you can help:
- Ask questions or voice 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 medicines 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.
Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.