your tests
agent and begin itching or have trouble
breathing, tell the health care worker. If
Questions to ask the health care
you are pregnant or nursing, ask your
workers who give the test or take
doctor and the health care worker if there
your blood
is anything that should be done before or » Is this facility accredited? Is it
after the test to protect you and your baby. inspected by a government
agency? When was the last
What is a “MRI” and how do you inspection? What was the result?
prepare for it? » Have you washed your hands?
MRI stands for magnetic resonance » Do you need to wear gloves while
imaging. The MRI machine has magnets you take my blood or sample?
inside it that are used to take a picture of » When will the results be ready?
your body. These strong magnets can How will my doctor and I be
quickly pull metal objects into the MRI informed of the results?
machine, which can cause injuries. The » Will you quickly notify me if the
machine also can heat up metal objects test shows a problem that needs
causing burns. If you get a MRI, be sure immediate action? Will you notify
to remove all metal from your body—such my doctor, too?
as hairpins—and tell the health care worker » Can you give me a telephone
if you have any implants in your body. number to call if I have questions?
Your test results show something is
wrong. What should you do? the Joint Commission) or licensing
Talk with your doctor and with one or more authority. The Joint Commission pro-
specialists to decide what the best treat- vides a complaint form on its website at
ment is for you. You’ll be able to make www.jointcommission.org.
the best decision when you have more
information. Don’t assume that no news is
good news.
What should you do if you have Always ask how and when you should get
a bad experience at the laboratory or your test results. Follow-up with the doctor
test facility? who ordered the test. Talking with your
If the lab or facility is part of a hospital, doctor and other health care workers can
call them so that they can correct the be important in getting the treatment you
problem. You can also file a complaint need as soon as possible.
with the accrediting organization (like
Source: The Joint Commission’s Speak Up Program (www.jointcommission.org)
38 the patient magazine 2010
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