hospital stay

By Michael Argust 2/25/2010 1

Hospital Pre-Admission

Making Sure Your Experience is a Pleasant and Safe One.


Know What to Expect When Admitted

• Prepare your body and mind - Food and fasting

• Prepare for questions about you• Prepare for paperwork, paperwork and

more…• Prepare for exams – Vitals, Medical

History• Weight, Blood Pressure, Age, Blood

Samples• Ultimately – Prepare to answer: What

brought you here today?


Know Your Care Plan

• Know the Nature of Your Condition• The more you know the better prepared

you are• Ask your doctor before being admitted about

it• Search national databases and local

organizations for answers about your condition

• Find focus and support groups to join and inquire

• Research in libraries, magazines and books • Join websites, blogs and internet groups


Goals of Your Care Plan

• Prevent a potential problem• Maintain current status quo• Resolve a currently or existing problem• Set Goals• Be Appropriate for your needs, strengths,

abilities… • Be Realistic, are these reasonably attainable for

you• Be Measurable, observable, and quantifiable • Be Specific, set timeframes, set activities• Create a Support group to attain goals


Be Prepared, Take Care of Yourself

• Know what you can and can’t do in the Hospital

• What to bring! Dentures, Hearing Aids, Eyeglasses, Contacts,

Reading Material, All Paperwork, Physicians Orders, Consent Forms, Advance Directives and Proxy Information…

• What not to bring! Electronics: Radio, CD player, CD’s, DVD’s,

Laptop, Ipod… Valuables: Jewelry, Rings, Necklaces, Watches,

Money..

• Know visiting hours, routines, meals, etc.


Know the Procedures and Treatment

• What are the risks?• Are there any side effects?

• What are the benefits?

• How successful has this been, how many others?

• How long does it take to realize the benefits?

• What alternative treatments are available?

• What will happen if I do nothing?


What are the Restrictions and Limitations

• Will I be able to work or care for myself?

• Will my activities be limited?

• How much pain and discomfort will I be in?

• What kind of side effects should I expect?

• Will this treatment cause other problems?


Who Will be Performing the Procedure

• Are you board qualified in this specialty?• Are you personally going

to perform this treatment or procedure?

• How many patients have you cared for with this problem?

• What is your success rate in treating this?


Explain Your Condition to Others

• It may be difficult to talk about your diagnosis

• You may be concerned about how others will react

• Teaching others about your diagnosis, helps others understand how to help you

• Usually friends and family will be supportive

• Prepare to be better an active member of your health team – (ask questions, do your homework)

• Don’t be afraid to ask you doctor about concerns or issues


Information Needed by Hospital

• Fill out Paperwork Ahead of time and/or Online

• Self - DL, SS#, Name, Address, Phone#, Birthday

• Employer - Name, Address, Phone

• Insurance - Name, Address, Policy#, Effective Dates, Co-pays, Deductibles,

• Guarantor - Name, Address, Phone#, SS#, Employer, Birthday


Have Additional Lists

• List of your Doctors’ names, addresses, phone#s

• List of your Medications – prescription and nonprescription, vitamins,

• List of Allergies

• List of Pre-Existing Conditions

• List of Family Contacts

• List of Special Needs – diets, language, mobility, hearing


Pre Admission

• Last Steps• Tour the Facility• Research All Options


Making Sure Your Experience is a Pleasant and Safe One.

The End

hospital stay

Health & Medicine

care plan

phone insurance

support groups

birthday employer

existing problem

potential problem

treatment cause

blood pressure