At The Hospital: For Patients

If you are having surgery, one of the first things to do is to ask your doctor questions and learn as much as you need about your procedure. (Read about "Medical Procedures" "Learn About Your Procedure") You'll be given a time, in advance, to arrive at the hospital. This may be several hours or more before your surgery. That's because the hospital or the facility you are going to tries to schedule people to keep things moving smoothly. Sometimes it may not seem that way, but the goal is not to keep you waiting whenever possible.

What to bring

When you come to the hospital, you'll go to the admissions or registration area. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), you should consider bringing:

• social security card
• insurance information
• identification
• list of medicines you are taking and any allergies (Read about "Allergies")
• any papers given you by your doctor
• a list of names and numbers to contact in case of emergency; be sure to include both home and work numbers
• any advance directives you have such as medical proxies

For your stay at the hospital, you want to travel as light as you can. Some of the things to consider bringing include:

• nightclothes, bathrobe and slippers (make sure personal items are labeled)
• comfortable clothes to wear home
• toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, comb and brush and other personal hygiene materials. Sometimes electrical appliances are prohibited; be sure to check in advance.
• a small amount of cash to buy newspapers and other reading material

There are things you shouldn't bring as well. Valuables including jewelry, wedding rings and watches are best left at home; in fact, for many surgical procedures, no jewelry is allowed so make sure you ask your doctor about this. You'll have no need for checkbooks, credit cards and large amounts of cash, leave them at home as well. Also, do not bring food to keep in your room. Depending on the procedure you are undergoing, your intake will need to be carefully monitored.

At some point, you will be asked to sign releases for your procedure. Make sure you ask questions before that. Know what is going to be happening and what you can expect. Also discuss what will happen when you are discharged. Ask how long you can expect to be in the hospital and what the procedures are for discharge. Also make sure you discuss with your doctor what will be expected of you when you get home to speed your recovery.

Be careful in the hospital. You will probably be weak or tired, be aware of that and take some precautions.

• Use the call button to get help. That's why it is there
• Use the controls on the bed to lower it to make it easier and safer to get in and out.
• Watch out for the wires and tubes that will be around the bed and attached to you.
• Keep the things you'll need and want within easy reach.
• Take only the medicines you are told to in the hospital.
• Use the handrails in the shower or tubs
• Use the handrails on the stairs and in the hallways.
• When given any medicine, ask the name and what the medicine is for.

Many hospitals are now asking their patients to help remind healthcare staff to wash their hands before working with the patient.

Who's who at the hospital

While at the hospital, you will have a number of people who will help you. Here's a list of some of those people and the kinds of things they will do for you according to NIA. You may see some or all of these people during your stay.

• Physicians - are authorized practitioners of medicine. You probably have a primary care physician who sees you at his office on a regular basis. You may see this doctor at the hospital as well. Depending on what your procedure is, you could also be seeing a surgeon or surgeons, a radiologist who will look at your x-rays (Read about "X-rays") and other tests that look inside your body, an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist as well as other specialists.
• Hospitalist - is dedicated to the delivery of medical care to hospitalized patients. Practitioners of hospital medicine include physicians and non-physician providers
• Nurses - registered nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, nurse's aides and nursing students - provide many patient-care services. For example, nurses give medicines, check vital signs (blood pressure, temperature and pulse), provide treatments and teach patients to care for themselves. The head nurse coordinates nursing care for each patient on the unit (the floor or section of the hospital where your room is located).
• Physical therapists - teach patients how to build muscles, increase flexibility and improve coordination. They may use exercise, heat, cold or water therapy to help patients whose ability to move is limited. (Read about "Rehabilitation")
• Occupational therapists - work with patients to restore, maintain or increase their ability to perform daily tasks such as cooking, eating, bathing and dressing.
• Respiratory therapists - prevent and treat breathing problems. For example, they teach patients exercises to help prevent lung infections after surgery. (Read about "Respiratory System")
• Technicians - perform a variety of tests such as x-rays and procedures such as taking blood.
• Dietitians - help plan specialized menus for patients and teach them how to plan a well-balanced diet.
• Pharmacists - know the chemical makeup and correct use of drugs. They prepare the medicines used in the hospital.
• Social workers - offer support to patients and their families. They can help patients and families learn about home-care, social services and support groups.
• Discharge planners - help patients arrange for health and home care needs after they go home from the hospital.

You also will see a number of other people performing jobs to make your stay safe and comfortable. They include the cleaning staff, orderlies and volunteers.

Preparing your child

If your child is scheduled to have surgery - or to be in the hospital for any other reason - there are some things you can do to prepare them for the experience. The first thing is to ask questions. Find out what their fears and concerns are. Try to explain things to them in their language. Talk about why the procedure has to be done, and about how it's being done so they can feel better afterwards. Explain that there are other children who have had this procedure. Tell them this isn't something that is happening because they've been bad, it's just something that many children have to go through.

Explain that they may be given medicine to help them sleep during the procedure. Tell them you'll be there when they wake up. Talk to the hospital staff too. They may have books or videos aimed at your child's age group, explaining who's who in a hospital, and taking a look at some of the different types of common procedures. Ask your healthcare provider and the hospital staff about letting your child bring a favorite toy or stuffed animal with them.

Encourage your child to ask the questions they might have - their concerns may be completely different from what you would expect. This can be especially true for older children, who may have seen or heard information about surgeries from television and other media sources. During all this, it will be hard, but try not to let your own fears about the surgery overshadow those of your child's.

If the procedure will involve an overnight stay, many hospitals allow a parent to stay with the child, so make sure you discuss this with your healthcare provider in advance. A hospital may also have a special program for children, letting them visit beforehand, or talk with healthcare professionals to get a better idea of what will happen.

Related Information:

    At the Hospital: For Visitors

    Emergency Room

    Anesthesia