Hospital Safety: Red Flags & What to Watch For
When you or a loved one is admitted to a hospital, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. However, being an observant advocate is one of the most effective ways to prevent medical errors. Below is a checklist of “Red Flags”—situations that indicate a breakdown in care and should be addressed immediately.
1. Hygiene and Sanitation Issues
Infection control is the foundation of hospital safety.
- Red Flag: Staff members (doctors, nurses, or technicians) not washing their hands or changing gloves upon entering the room.
- Red Flag: Visible dirt, blood, or debris on medical equipment or in the bathroom.
- What to do: Politely but firmly ask, “Would you mind washing your hands before we begin?”
2. Medication Errors and Confusion
Medication mistakes are among the most common hospital errors.
- Red Flag: Being given a pill or IV without the nurse scanning your ID wristband first.
- Red Flag: A change in the appearance of your medication without an explanation from the doctor.
- What to do: Ask, “What is this medication, what is it for, and what is the dosage?” If it looks different than usual, do not swallow it until you have a clear answer.
3. Communication Breakdowns (Hand-off Errors)
The most dangerous time in a hospital is during a “shift change” or a transfer between departments.
- Red Flag: The night nurse is unaware of a procedure the morning doctor ordered.
- Red Flag: Discharge instructions that contradict what you were told during your stay.
- What to do: Keep a small notebook. Note down what every doctor tells you so you can bridge the gap between shifts yourself.
4. Patient Identification Failures
- Red Flag: A staff member starts a procedure, blood draw, or transport without confirming your name and date of birth.
- What to do: Always stop the staff member and say, “Please verify my identity before we proceed.”
5. Inadequate Discharge Planning
A “safe discharge” means you have everything you need to recover at home.
- Red Flag: Being sent home without a written list of follow-up appointments or a clear understanding of “warning signs” to watch for.
- Red Flag: Being discharged while still feeling unstable or without a plan for home care if required.
- What to do: See our guide on Your Right to a Safe Discharge.
Why These “Red Flags” Matter for Your Complaint
If you are filing a complaint on hospitalcomplaints.ca, mentioning these specific safety failures helps Provincial Health Departments identify systemic risks. For example, if multiple patients at one hospital report that “ID wristbands aren’t being scanned,” that is a clear signal that the hospital needs better safety protocols.
Documented a Red Flag today? Submit your experience to our database here.