Posters offer patients tips for safe hospital stays

You’d think being in the hospital would be a pretty safe place to be. But communication mix-ups, infection threats and other issues can make a hospital stay not-so-safe. Now, the Washington State Hospital Association and the Washington State Medical Association have joined forces to improve patient safety.

The organizations have created brochures and posters for patients entitled, “Help Us Help You: Your Role in Safe Care.” The materials are being distributed to more than 7,000 doctors and all 98 Washington hospitals.

At the core of the educational campaign are six straightforward tips:

•Ask questions if you have doubts or concerns.

•Involve your loved ones.

•Know your medications and supplements.

•Help prevent the spread of infection.

•Understand what will happen if you need surgery.

•Know what to do after you are discharged from the hospital.

Brochures are also available at http://www.wsha.org/publications_printpub.htm.

Free developmental screenings

Worried that your toddler isn’t developing as he or she should?

The Spokane Regional Health District and the Spokane County Interagency Coordinating Council are organizing free child-development screenings this month.

The screenings, which are open to children under 3, will cover cognitive, physical and communication abilities, as well as social and emotional growth, and adaptive skills.

“Recent Washington State surveys suggest that as many as one in five children in our state has at least one of the developmental challenges the screenings are designed to identify,” Spokane County health officer Dr. Kim Marie Thorburn says in a press release. “Early identification is key to effectively addressing whatever the developmental issue may be.”

The screenings, which run until Oct. 1, will be held at six different sites. Call 324-1651 for more information and to schedule an appointment.

Flu shots at the mall

Spokane Valley Mall and NorthTown Mall will be hosting flu-shot clinics in coming weeks.

Flu shots will be given for $25 each and pneumonia shots will be $35. The shots are administered by Clinical Health Systems Inc.

Shots, which are available while supplies last, are scheduled to be given from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 1, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Oct. 2.

They will be administered near Sears on the lower level of the Spokane Valley Mall and on the lower level by customer service at NorthTown Mall.