Quality and safety of care

When you are admitted, we will give you a bracelet with your first name, last name, gender, and date of birth. Please wear this bracelet on your wrist at all times. It helps us to check your identity when you have a treatment or examination, therefore improving safety of care for our patients. You will have regular identity checks during your hospital stay. 

A series of safety checks are performed before any procedure until you fall asleep from the anesthesia. We check your identity as well as the organ and side to be operated on; the final check is performed out loud. High quality of care is of paramount importance to us; this procedure is for your added safety. 

Hôpital de La Tour has a team of doctors and nurses who specialize in preventing healthcare-associated infections. The main goals of this expert team are to prevent, monitor, and control healthcare-associated infections; investigate and control hospital outbreaks; and stop the emergence and spread of bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics.

Your care team may also use other hospital safety measures, including wearing protective masks, gloves, glasses, and scrubs, to protect you if you have a weakened immune system or are at risk of infection. Family members and visitors can also adopt some of these measures to help you.

Falls are unfortunately a frequent occurrence in hospitals. However, Hôpital de La Tour has taken numerous measures to prevent falls, such as low beds, signs for wet or slippery floors, and mobility aids. 

We also recommend that you wear shoes with a closed toe and non-slip socks to keep yourself as safe as possible. You can ask your care team at any time for help moving safely around the hospital. 

If you are not well enough to move, prolonged pressure on your skin from your bed or chair can cause pressure ulcers. These ulcers are caused by long periods of inactivity and form on pressure points, such as the heels and buttocks. If you feel uncomfortable, please let a member of the care team know. We are doing everything possible to prevent pressure ulcers. We can also provide you with an air mattress which reduces the risk of these ulcers from developing. 

For more information and quality review results on falls and pressure ulcer prevention at Hôpital de La Tour. 

In the event of a fire, please inform a member of staff immediately and follow the instructions provided. Fire safety instructions are displayed in each department and all rooms are equipped with a smoke detector. 

Security and surveillance officers are on site from 7 p.m. until midnight in order to control access to the hospital and ensure the safety of our patients. They can also be contacted by staff at all times. If necessary, please speak to a member of the care team in your department.

In accordance with Swiss law, we also have video surveillance cameras in key areas to better ensure your safety as well as the safety of your family and our staff. Signs are placed in the areas where cameras are in operation.