If you need to complain about the care that your loved one is receiving then it is best to start by talking with their doctors and nurses. Be as specific as possible with your concerns and be clear what is needed to resolve any issues. If you don’t feel the concerns are being addressed you can request to speak to a hospital social worker who has experience connecting patients and family caregivers to the right resources. Most hospitals will have a department that deals with patient relations or patient advocates.
If the situation is serious and your loved one is covered by Medicare then you can file a complaint with your State’s Quality Improvement Organization (QIO). The QIOs work to address the care complaints of people covered by Medicare. Examples of what QIOs deal with are issues of being given the wrong medication or surgery or receiving inadequate or substandard care.
To find your State’s QIO please visit: https://www.ahqa.org/ahqa-member-organizations/ or you can call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE.
If you need to complain about a nursing home or similar facility you can call your local ombudsman program. To find the information on your local ombudsman visit: http://theconsumervoice.org.
