FAQ

At Lifespan, we encourage patients to ask questions related to safety. The questions below briefly answer these questions and direct patients to additional pages for further information. Please return to this page for updated answers to additional questions that site visitors submit.

• How do I know I'm taking the correct prescribed medication while I am staying at the hospital?
  Lifespan's four affiliated hospitals (Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children's hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Bradley Hospital and Newport Hospital) utilize a system of automated medication dispensing. Installed in all patient units, this “closed-loop” medication system is designed to enhance patient safety. It helps to reduce the human opportunity for error. It helps to ensure that the right patient receives the correct dosage of prescribed medication at the right time.
  Read more about this medication system, how it works, and how it keeps patients safe.
• How do Lifespan's hospitals protect patients against infections during their hospital stay?
  The goal of Lifespan's affiliated hospitals is for patients to have a safe, healthy and infection-free hospital experience. All hospital employees—physicians, nurses, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and food service and maintenance workers alike—adhere to a pro-active program that has decreased patients' risks to infections.
  Read more about this infection-control program and how patients play an important role in keeping our hospitals infection-free.
  
  Lifespan's hospitals are also working to reduce the number of Intensive Care Unit infections. The ICU-related complications that pose serious health risks, and have been targeted for improvement by the Rhode Island ICU Collaborative, of which Lifespan's hospitals are members. These include: central line-associated blood stream infections (CLASBSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and sepsis (whole-body blood infection).
  Read about our program to address ICU-related infections.
• What happens when an error occurs at Lifespan's hospitals?
  Lifespan's affiliated hospitals are committed to promoting a culture of safety. When human error does occur, or when a safety event happens, Lifespan promotes fair and just responses by balancing a non-punitive approach to reporting and continuous improvement, while also holding all staff members accountable to meet their fundamental responsibilities.
  Read more about how Lifespan's hospitals maintain a culture of safety.
• What safety precautions are in place during radiation treatments?
  All Lifespan's affiliated hospitals—Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children's hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Bradley Hospital and Newport Hospital—are licensed by the State of Rhode Island Department of Health and adhere to strict Federal government regulations regarding the use of radiation for health care and research. At Lifespan's hospitals, a Quality Management and Error Prevention Program protect all patients against radiation overexposure.
  Read more about this program and how it works and other initiatives that protect patients during radiation therapy.
• What are Lifespan's hospitals doing to keep children safe?
  At Lifespan's affiliated hospitals, our young patients receive high-quality medical care. Our staff is dedicated to keeping our patients safe while they are getting well. We also believe that the continuum of care does not end when patients leave the hospital. There are many programs at the hospital that have been designed to help patients and their families lead safe, more fulfilling and healthier lives when they leave the hospital and return to their homes, schools and communities. Read about them.
• How does Lifespan's hospital staff protect patients against wrong site/wrong side surgeries?
  A universal protocol process, developed initially at Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, is mandated for use in all operating rooms and in all surgical areas: cardiac, general, genitourinary, plastic, neuro, pediatric and vascular. This process helps to safeguard patients against wrong-site and wrong-side surgeries.
  Read more about how this protocol process works.
• What role do nurses play in patient safety?
  Working in concert with each hospital's administrative and medical personnel, nurses are at the forefront of patient safety.
  Read more about how nurses are involved with patient safety.
• How are doctors, EMTs, paramedics and others trained so that medical procedures are safe and effective?
  They are trained at the Lifespan's Medical Simulation Center. Located at Rhode Island Hospital, this unique, state-of-the-art facility, not open to the public, comprises a simulation control room and simulator area, trainee simulation-viewing areas, a conference room for audiovisual debriefings, and offices.
  Read more about the Simulation Center or visit the center online.

We encourage you to return to this web page for updates on Lifespan's continual efforts to foster a culture of safety and submit any questions or concerns you may have.