Patient Safety

The staff at the Western Maryland Health System is committed to providing you with the safest care possible. And as part of that commitment, we have developed a Patient Safety Plan that proactively addresses situations where patient safety may be a concern. We also have a System Director of Patient Safety, whose role is to assist the staff in meeting our patient safety goals. The Patient Safety Department also is available to assist you and your family with any concerns you may have about the safety of your care.

Hospitals are complex places and many staff members are responsible for different aspects of your care. We have policies and procedures in place to help provide safe care; but, unfortunately, mistakes do happen. At WMHS, our doctors, nurses, and other staff members are encouraged to report these events when they occur so that we can learn from them. We want to find out what went wrong and what we can do to make sure it does not happen again.

Our most important tool is communication. Please let us know if you or your family members have any concerns about your care. There is someone on duty at all times to assist you and your family with any concerns you may have.

One resource is a Patient Advocate. Our patient advocates are always glad to provide assistance. In many instances, they can resolve the situation themselves. If not, they will contact the right person to assist you. Our patient advocates make daily rounds or you can ask for one to visit you by dialing 5189 from your bedside telephone.

It is important for you and your family to be completely informed about your care. If you have any unanswered questions about your care, please ask to speak to the Nurse Manager of your nursing unit. The Nurse Manager can arrange for a family conference with your physician, nurses, social worker, dietitian, care manager, System Director of Patient Safety, or other appropriate caregivers.

If you are not satisfied with your care, please request a visit from the Nurse Manager for your nursing unit or the Nursing Supervisor. Either of these individuals can assist you. There is a Nursing Supervisor on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can call the Nursing Supervisor by dialing "0" and asking the operator to page her for you or you can ask any staff member to contact the Nursing Supervisor for you.

Remember, our goal is to provide you with safe and effective care. If you believe that any aspect of your care is not safe, you can request a visit from the System Director of Patient Safety. You can do this by calling 1428 from your bedside telephone during normal business hours. During the evening hours and on weekends and holidays, please talk with the Nursing Supervisor. The Nursing Supervisor will notify the System Director of Patient Safety to arrange for a visit on the next workday.

The staff at the Western Maryland Health System strives to provide you with the best care possible at all times. If at anytime, though, you believe your care is not meeting your needs, please let us know by requesting to speak with the Nurse Manager, Nursing Supervisor or the System Director of Patient Safety. At the Western Maryland Health System, you deserve our best always.

The following numbers are provided for your convenience:

WMHS System Director, Patient Safety
301-723-1428

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
877-402-8218

Joint Commission on the Accreditation
of Healthcare Organizations
800-994-6610