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Pre-Admission Steps

Before checking into the hospital, there are steps you can take to smooth the admitting process and raise the odds of having a good and safe experience. These include exchanging information with your doctors and the hospital and making a visit to the hospital. The Preparation Checklist can help you keep track of these steps.

Your Care Plan. Your primary physician and the hospital will most likely develop a "care plan" for you before you are admitted. This plan outlines:

• The nature of your condition;
• Goals of your care;
• Treatments or procedures you are expected to have;
• Restrictions on the care you are to be given; and
• The physicians who will be providing the care.

It can be useful to discuss this care plan with your treating physician before you are admitted. By understanding the goals of your treatment, as well as who will be in charge of different aspects of your care, you will be better able to understand what happens to you in the hospital, which can help the whole process be less stressful and confusing.

What Information Does the Hospital Need from You? By providing the following information to the hospital before you are admitted, your days before and immediately after entering the hospital will be less hectic, the admitting process will be smoother, and your stay will be safer. The information to provide to the hospital admission office includes:

• Your personal contact information;
• Contact information for the person who will act as your spokesperson;
• Names and contact information of your doctors;
• Details of your health insurance;
• List of your medications, including over-the-counter and vitamins;
• Facts about your health, such as allergies and prior or existing conditions;
• Special needs you may have, such as diet or language assistance; and
• Copies of your Advance Directive and any other health care-related documents.

What Information Does the Hospital Have for You? There are many forms to fill out during the admitting process. The more you can read and fill out ahead of time, the easier the admitting process will be. It will also give you more time to digest the information and to ask questions and get answers. The hospital also has copies of rules, regulations, and statements of patient rights for you to read. Many hospitals now make these forms and information available through their Web sites. Contact the hospital admitting or administrator's office to find out the easiest way for you to get this material in advance.

Hospital Visit. You may have already toured the hospital where you will be admitted. If not, you may want to do so before you are admitted. If possible, bring the person who will be acting as your spokesperson while you are a patient there (see Arrange Support Network). Begin by visiting the admitting office to pick up and even fill out the admission forms, to get information about hospital rules and regulations, and to find out what information the hospital needs from you.