| you have to go to the hospital, there is a potential | | | | that your needs may be more fully addressed. |
| for great confusion and stress for the patient and | | | | Also at the discharge meeting it will be decided if you |
| possibly family and friends. If you do some planning | | | | will go home, or to some other facility. You may be |
| before, during and after the hospitalization, you can | | | | placed in a rehabilitation hospital, a skilled nursing |
| take control of your health and set yourself up for a | | | | facility, an assisted living residence, or home with help |
| calmer recovery. You might want to keep your | | | | from a caretaker, family member or friend. |
| health care planning information in the same place in | | | | A rehabilitation hospital is where they have an |
| your home where you store your other important | | | | intensive therapy programoften several hours a |
| documents. | | | | day of therapy. This is a place patients are sent |
| You will want to have a list of the medicines you are | | | | when they are too "well" for the hospital but not yet |
| taking, and you will want to keep track of answers | | | | strong enough to return home. Another option for |
| to questions you have about your care and | | | | care between the hospital and the home setting is a |
| treatment. If you are not able to act as your own | | | | skilled nursing facility, which will usually offer some |
| best health care advocate, it is good to designate | | | | rehabilitation services.Sometimes, you will need more |
| someone who can. Also, to make the hospital stay | | | | help than you can get at home, and you will be |
| more comfortable, you may want to bring things | | | | released to an assisted living facility. |
| from home, such as books, slippers, and a robe. | | | | Issues of your mobility can be assessed at the |
| There will be questions that you need to ask so that | | | | hospital, especially if you request it. Many people |
| you can make informed health care decisions. Ask | | | | leaving the hospital will have specialized equipment for |
| and write down the names of all the doctors who | | | | their recovery period. There are many other pieces |
| examined you while you were in the hospital; tests | | | | of medical equipment to help you with your mobility |
| that were performed and with what results; the | | | | besides the wheelchair and walker--you may need a |
| diagnosis, in medical and layperson's terms; the | | | | raised toilet seat, grab bars in the shower, and |
| prognosis for your condition or disease; any new | | | | bathroom railings. If you are going to a rehabilitation |
| medicines that are prescribed; possible side effects | | | | hospital, skilled nursing facility, or assisted living facility, |
| of proposed treatment; and information about any | | | | many of these items will be provided for you to use |
| appropriate clinical trials. | | | | while you are there. |
| It is especially important to keep track of medicines | | | | Additional details will be needed if you are going from |
| prescribed before, during, and upon release from the | | | | the hospital to your home. Will your necessary |
| hospital. Make a note of when medicines are first | | | | equipment be there already? Will you be able to |
| prescribed, when dosages are adjusted, and all | | | | reach all rooms or areas in your home? What needs |
| medicines that are discontinued. An accurate list will | | | | to be done to make your home more comfortable |
| help protect you from over-medicating, | | | | and accessible for you? If you persist in asking |
| under-medicating, or having ineffective combinations | | | | questions before your release from the hospital, you |
| of medications. | | | | can help that transition to home be as smooth as it |
| When you are scheduled to be discharged from the | | | | can be. While a hospital stay is never looked forward |
| hospital, there will be a "discharge meeting." The | | | | to, with some planning, asking the right questions, |
| discharge planner coordinates ordering equipment, | | | | and recording information, the stay may be less |
| home health services, outpatient therapy, and many | | | | stressful. Further, when you have adequate |
| other services. The planner will make sure that the | | | | information about your health and your treatment |
| doctor has issued prescription orders for all services | | | | options, you can make more informed decisions and |
| you need. It is a good idea to attend the discharge | | | | feel more in control of your life and your health. |
| meeting (or have someone attend on your behalf) so | | | | |