Payson Roundup | Payson, AZ

Today’s patients can and should take an active role in their medical care.

During Patient Safety Awareness Week, TRICARE is emphasizing this right — and responsibility. By communicating with their providers, beneficiaries can participate in a team approach to their healthcare which builds trust, honesty and openness for a healthy provider-patient relationship.

Using the TEAM-UP checklist will help beneficiaries be a part of their healthcare. TEAM-UP is a Department of Defense (DoD) initiative being piloted at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Wash. The concept is available for other military treatment facilities to use.

“TEAM-UP allows beneficiaries to be active participants in promoting safe, quality healthcare,” said Heidi King, deputy director, DoD Patient Safety Program.

The TEAM-UP checklist encourages beneficiaries to:

• Team together with providers and become an active member of their healthcare team.

• Educate themselves about the members of their healthcare team and know the proposed treatment plan.

• Ask questions.

• Manage medications by writing them down, reading labels carefully and alerting the healthcare team if a medication does not match what was prescribed.