You are an important member of your care team. Here are some ways you can get involved with your own care and prepare for your visit.
Making sure we are caring for the right person is important and you will be asked for two ways to identify yourself. You may be asked for your first name, last name, health card, date of birth or driver’s licence or other identifiers.
It’s okay to speak up if you don’t understand something about your care. Ask for written information to take home with you. Write down questions so you don’t forget them. Ask for an interpreter if you are hearing-impaired or if English is not your first language.
Tell us if you have a condition that might make a fall more likely (e.g. seizure disorder, poor balance, feeling faint). Let your clinician know if you have any history of dizziness, light-headedness or fainting at the sight of needles or when blood is drawn. Immediately report any symptoms such as dizziness and light-headedness. Let the care team know if you have fallen in the last 3 months or might need a wheelchair.
Tell us if you have any known allergies, for example reactions to medication, food, latex and Band-Aids. Tell us immediately if you’ve had a bad reaction to any medication. Bring a list of your current medications used at home, including vitamins, herbals, inhalers and over-the counter medications.
If you notice that a medication looks different from what you have been given before, ask us to check the medication and explain why it has changed. Make sure to keep the list up to date. You may use a medication card for this list. Ask if you are unsure about a medication’s purpose or how to take it.
Use alcohol hand sanitizer or soap and water after coughing or sneezing, after using the washroom or changing a diaper, or touching or examining your genital area. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue into a garbage can and immediately clean your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve, not your hand.
Your privacy is important to us and we take the utmost care to protect your information. If you would like a copy of your health care results, please tell your health care provider at the time of your testing. You will need to show photo identification. Please ensure you respect the privacy of other clients by not taking pictures at any time.
You have the right to:
- Know the names and roles of the members of your health care team.
- Receive effective care that is considerate, timely and respectful of your diverse views, culture, spiritual traditions, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation and abilities.
- Receive information about your health care in a language you understand, with an interpreter accessed through a 3-way telephone call, a client-paid private interpreter or a client-chosen trusted friend or family member, if desired, within reasonable limits.
You are responsible for:
- Participating in and making informed choices about the factors that affect your health and health care.
- Refraining from the following behaviors towards staff members: violence or threat of violence, verbal abuse, sexual harassment or inappropriate sexual behaviour, use of alcohol or illegal drugs when on the premises, smoking when on the premises
- Expressing your satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the services you have received.
- Communicating ideas that may improve service delivery.
- Respecting other clients, students and staff members.
- Following your care plan to best of your ability.
- Following all safety, procedural and emergency directives from staff members and emergency personnel.
- Rescheduling or canceling when you can’t make an appointment so another client may receive care from a clinician.
If you have a concern about your care, please discuss it with us and either contact the staff person directly, ask to speak with a supervisor or manager, or complete a comment card. If you are not satisfied with the response, please contact the
Patient Care Quality Office.
