Voices from the Field

Coloradans discuss how to build a safer, healthier state

You’ve probably received recommendations for page turners to pack for vacation but this may be a first: books you should bring along if you’re headed to the hospital.

The New York Times recently reviewed “Two Choices for Best Bedside Read in the Hospital.”  But don’t expect distracting reads; These books are designed to give patients (or their family members) insight into their care.

The first, “Confessions of a Surgeon” by Paul A. Ruggieri, M.D., offers a candid assessment of life in the operating room. “While smooth sailing in the operating room is an exhilarating, ego-boosting rush, things can go wrong in an instant,” The Times notes.  As a result, “a preoperative patient might prefer to leave Dr. Ruggieri’s book at home until it is all safely over,” the review cautions.  

But “The Patient’s Checklist” by Elizabeth Bailey “is specifically meant to be included in the hospital suitcase,” the review states. Checklists for physicians are time-tested way to reduce errors so why shouldn’t patients, or their advocates, have their own checklists?

Think About It Colorado Board of Advisors member Patty Skolnik, who founded Citizens for Patient Safety, has published a similar Patient Medical Guide entitled “Finding Your Way through a Safe Healthcare Journey.” It’s available for purchase in hard copy or downloaded versions here.