The Adventure of the Hospital Stay

You stay in a hospital to be cared for and with any situation that falls into the category of “care” your independence is secondary to the assistance you are being given. That being the case, there are still things you can control, plan for and expect, prior to an impending hospital admission, to make your stay more successful.

What to Bring

ID and Insurance information

Call the hospital beforehand to see if your information is stored in their digital system so that you don’t need to bring a hard copy. If you do bring any important IDs to the hospital with you, ask the staff to hold the items in safekeeping during your stay so that you don’t have to keep track of them or worry about loss.

Clothing

If you feel you might want something more than a hospital gown (especially if you get cold easily) pack a robe or extra cover, extra underwear and a loose, informal outfit if you think you will be mobile enough to walk around.

A Notebook

to take notes on any conversations you have with staff and doctors regarding your care and health status.

Entertainment

A book or magazine to read or a coloring book and pencils.

Technology

Technology such as smart phones and tablets are the Swiss Army knife of all things digital and entertaining but realize that hospitals are not foolproof and expensive items can easily disappear or get lost. Most hospitals have a safe where they will store your expensive items if needed. However, once stored you won’t have daily access to the item, which essentially nullifies its use. So if you’re worried about theft, leave it at home.

Additionally, don’t bring any unnecessary items of value like expensive jewelry.

Risk of Infection

While in the hospital, the risk of infection cannot be 100% avoided. However, there are some factors that you should consider;

• (UPDATE) Hospitals today are extremely cautious when it comes to guarding against COVID-19. Be sure to speak with your doctor or hospital administration team about the ways they are guarding against the spread of infection

• Smoking makes one more susceptible to infection – try to reduce your smoking or quit prior to admission.

• If you have Diabetes, make sure your blood sugar levels are under control. This will help avoid infection.

• Inform your doctor of all existing or recent illness – a recent cold or flu can lead to chest infection which may be exacerbated by potential infection in hospital.

Set a Plan of Care

Most hospitals employ a reasonable level of care these days, as patient satisfaction is an important factor to their operating performance. That being said, no situation is perfect.

Ask questions and make sure you fully understand your plan of care while staying in the hospital. Enlist family members to help ensure that communication and understanding is clear between you and staff members and/or ask for in-house nurse advocates or social workers if you have any concerns with the quality of communication or care.

While you are not there to micro-manage your own health care, you should feel confident that you’re in good hands.

Broad Street Can Help

We provide Nurse Advocacy to support better understanding and communication between the client, the family and the health care team to ensure best outcomes. In addition, through our Professional Network, we can provide other professional services to support the continuum of care, including hospital stays and transitions from the hospital to the home.

For more information, please call 847.728.0134.