A hospital stay often brings uncertainty and anxiety. Navigating medical care requires preparation and active participation to ensure the safest and most effective recovery. This guide offers practical steps for patients and caregivers to move through the process with clarity and confidence.
Preparing Before Admission
Taking preparatory steps before entering the hospital streamlines the admission process and enhances care. Compile all necessary administrative documentation, including photo identification, insurance cards, and any established advance directives or living wills. Having these documents organized prevents delays and ensures your treatment preferences are known.
Create a comprehensive and accurate list of your current medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. For each item, note the specific dosage, frequency, and the reason you are taking it, as this information is vital for the medical team to avoid drug interactions. Also, bring a list of allergies, specifying the associated reaction, and the contact information for your primary care doctor and specialists.
Organize personal items that support comfort and communication during your stay. Pack your glasses, hearing aids, or dentures, as these aids are necessary for interacting with staff and following instructions. Bring a phone charger and a notebook to track important information, such as the names of your care team members and planned tests.
Advocating for Your Care During the Stay
Active patient or caregiver advocacy ensures high-quality, patient-centered treatment throughout the hospitalization. Open communication begins with asking clarifying questions about your diagnosis, treatment goals, and the expected timeline for your stay. Understanding the roles of staff members—from nurses and residents to specialists and physical therapists—helps you know who to direct specific questions to.
Confirming every medication before it is administered helps prevent adverse drug events. When a staff member presents a drug, ask “What is the name of this medication, and what is it for?” and “What are the side effects I should watch out for?”. This step confirms the “five rights” of medication administration: right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time.
Address concerns regarding pain management early and clearly, ensuring the team understands your pain tolerance and preferences. If you or your care partner feel that something about the treatment plan or your condition does not seem right, voice your concern immediately, as you are the person most familiar with your baseline health. If you need a more formal discussion, request a patient care conference with the primary physician, case manager, and nurse to review the plan and discuss discharge.
Ensuring Personal Safety While Admitted
Maintaining personal safety involves practical steps to minimize common risks, such as infection and falls. Preventing healthcare-associated infections starts with rigorous hand hygiene. It is appropriate to ask every member of the care team, including doctors and visitors, to wash their hands or use alcohol-based sanitizer before touching you. This action reduces the transmission of pathogens, like Clostridioides difficile or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Preventing falls requires constant awareness, as unfamiliar environments and medication side effects increase risk. Always use the call button to request assistance before attempting to get out of bed, especially if you are feeling dizzy or unsteady. Ensure the bed is kept in a locked and low position, and that your mobility aids, such as a walker or cane, remain within easy reach.
Before any procedure, test, or medication administration, confirm your identity by checking your wristband and stating your name and date of birth. If you are undergoing surgery, verify the site and type of surgery with the team beforehand. These protocols ensure the right patient receives the right intervention at the right location.
Planning for a Successful Transition Home
The final phase of a hospital stay is the transition home, which requires meticulous planning to prevent complications and readmission. Before discharge, undergo a medication reconciliation process, ensuring the list of medications you will take at home matches the discharge orders. Confirm the dosage, timing, and purpose for every medication and ask for written instructions.
Work with the discharge planner to coordinate any necessary services or equipment you will need at home, such as home health aides or durable medical equipment like a walker or shower chair. Confirm all follow-up appointments with your primary care physician and specialists, as well as any scheduled tests. Setting these appointments before you leave the facility ensures continuity of care.
Understand what symptoms or warning signs warrant contacting your doctor or seeking emergency care post-discharge. Know who to call and have those contact numbers available. A successful transition depends on a smooth transfer of information and resources, ensuring you can manage your recovery safely at home.