A group of patient safety advocates has put together two outstanding web sites chock full of information about how to navigate the health care system safely for you and your loved ones.
The Empowered Patient Coalition (click here for the web site) is educating patients on how to become informed and involved in their own health care — which makes for better, safer outcomes. One of their first projects is a blueprint for managing a stay in the hospital. The web site has many more valuable resources, including this directory of non-profit patient safety groups, helpful books and other resources. Many of these groups were started by lay people who had terrible experiences with medical malpractice in the health care system and want to make a difference by helping others to avoid injury.
A related web site has a broader directory of patient safety advocates who serve the public. The directory includes patient safety professionals, radio shows, blogs and other links. Click here for the link. Mothers Against Medical Error (MAME), through its founder Helen Haskell, put together this directory.