Hospital Tips

It is a fact that going to the hospital is notencoded information that could lead to identity
something most of us look forward to. It is thetheft.
feeling of the unknown, complicated by the3. If at all possible, have a loved one or close
prospect of discomfort in unfamiliar surroundings,friend check in on you (in person) every day, if
that makes most of us nervous about a hospitalyou are hospitalized. It is well known in the
stay. The following hospital tips have beenindustry that patients who receive few or no
compiled from years of personal and professionalvisitors can be neglected in favor of those who
experience within a large hospital system andseem to have responsible people watching out for
includes information that is not always commonlytheir welfare. Have them leave their home or cell
disclosed to the patients or their families.phone numbers with the nurse's station in case of
1. Admissions is usually your first stop in a hospitalany special needs or concerns on the part of the
stay. It is common to be asked for a whole arraypatient and also make sure that they leave them
of personal information including your socialwith YOU, the patient, so you can call for
security number, insurance card information,assistance, if you need it.
address, phone number, employer, etc. It is not4. One of the most important hospital tips to
always necessary to give ALL of this informationknow is one that they hardly ever tell you. If you
to achieve a hospital admission. It is a fact thatshould have any major problems or concerns
there have been increasing occurrences ofwhile you or a loved one is in the hospital, ask for
identity theft and credit card fraud on the part ofthe hospital patient representative to come and
an occasional nefarious person working for thesee you immediately. This person's primary job is
hospital admissions departments. Try to give asas a patient advocate and they will often be able
little information as possible that will get the jobto intercede on your behalf when other avenues
done. You can ask your doctor's office to helpfail. And there is no charge for their services.
you get pre-admitted with information that you5. Make sure that everyone who enters your
give over the phone and can control a little betterroom to care for you (doctors, nurses, tech
while you are still in a familiar environment. Tellstaff, etc), first stops at the sink and washes
your doctor and the admissions person that youtheir hands. This may seem simplistic, but recent
have concerns about giving out too muchresearch has shown that the most serious
information.hospital-borne bacteria (the kind that can make
2. Upon admission, you will have a plastic braceletyou very sick or even kill you) are passed to the
attached to your wrist. This bracelet identifies youpatient from their caregivers having failed to wash
but also contains vital information that is pertinentbetween patient care giving. Even physician's cell
to you and why you are there. It is a good ideaphones are rampant with viruses and bacteria.
that when nurses or other ancillary people enterPolitely remind them to wash, if they forget. It is
your room to perform a procedure, take blood oryour life and your health you are protecting.
give you medications, that you make sure theyPrint out a copy of this list of hospital tips and
check your bracelet and match what they aretake it with you to the hospital. Give a copy to
doing to who you are. Hospitals are notorious forthe person you are counting on to watch over
medication errors and this will help ensure thatyou while you are in the hospital. It is important
you are really getting what you are supposed to.and can save you a lot of unnecessary hassles
And when you are discharged, make sure youbefore, during and after your hospital stay.
cut the bracelet up into tiny pieces as it contains