Planning a hospital stay includes determining what hospitals or facilities are covered by the patient's insurance plan, evaluating the credentials of the health care providers and hospital, gathering information about the hospital, including services offered, scheduling the hospital stay, completing pre-admission testing, receiving and following all of the appropriate pre-admission instructions, registering at the hospital upon arrival, as well as completing an informed consent form.
Patients are admitted to the hospital for a variety of reasons, including scheduled tests, procedures, or surgery; emergency medical treatment; administration of medication; or to stabilize or monitor an existing medical condition.
Planning a hospital stay helps the patient understand what to expect before admission to the hospital and ensures the patient is physically and psychologically ready.
If the hospital stay was planned, some of the steps involved in preparing for the hospital stay will take place one to two weeks before the patient is admitted to the hospital. Many of these steps will not apply if the hospital stay was unexpected or was the result of an emergency.
Although there are many types of hospitals available to meet the needs of different patients, the patient's choice of hospital may be limited by his or her insurance plan. The patient should find out if the selected hospital is approved by his or her insurance plan. If the patient receives care from a facility that is not approved by the health care plan, the patient may be responsible for paying for most or all of the medical expenses related to the hospital stay.
Managed care insurance plans often require pre-certification before any hospital stay, except for emergency hospital admissions. Usually, the patient's doctor has to authorize the hospital stay, and some types of care provided in the hospital may require insurance clearance.
If the patient has Medicare insurance (for patients over age 65), a semiprivate room, meals, general nursing care, and other hospital services and supplies are covered services. Those services not covered by Medicare include private duty nursing, a private room (unless medically necessary), and television and telephone fees.
The patient may desire to seek a second opinion to confirm the doctor's treatment recommendations. The patient should check with his or her insurance provider to determine if the second opinion consultation is covered.
FOR PATIENTS WITHOUT INSURANCE COVERAGE. For patients who do not have insurance coverage, other payment options and sources of financial aid can be discussed. The patient should ask to speak with the hospital's financial counselor for more information.
The patient should find out if the physicians who will provide care in the hospital are board certified. Even though board certification is not required for an individual physician to practice medicine, most hospitals require that a certain percentage of their staff be board certified. There are 24 certifying boards recognized by the American Board of Member Specialties (ABMS) and the American Medical Association (AMA). Most of the ABMS boards issue time-limited certificates, valid for six to 10 years. This requires physicians to become recertified to maintain their board certification—a process that includes a credential review, continuing education in the specialty, and additional examinations.
A physician's membership in professional societies is also an important consideration. Professional societies provide an independent forum for medical specialists to discuss issues of national interest and mutual concern. Examples of professional societies include the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and the American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP-ASIM).
To find information about a physician's qualifications, the patient can call a state or county medical association for assistance. A reference book is also available, The Official ABMS Directory of Board-Certified Medical Specialists, that lists all physicians who are certified by approved boards. This publication also contains brief information about each physician's medical education and training, and it can be found in many libraries.
Selecting a hospital that has a multi-disciplinary team of specialists is important. The medical team should include surgeons (as applicable), physicians who specialize in the patient's medical condition (such as cardiologists for heart disease and pulmonologists for lung disease), infectious disease specialists, pharmacologists, and advanced care registered nurses. Other medical team members may include fellows, residents, interns, clinical coordinators, physical therapists, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, registered dietitians, social workers, and financial counselors.
The patient should find out if the hospital has been accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, a professionally sponsored program that stimulates a high quality of patient care in health care facilities. Joint Commission accreditation means the hospital voluntarily sought accreditation and met national health and safety standards.
Here are some questions to consider when evaluating a hospital:
Usually, the patient receives information about the hospital from the admitting office when the hospital stay is scheduled. This information should include directions to the hospital, parking information, lodging information if the patient is from out of town, types of rooms, and services offered.
Hospital services offered may include:
All hospitals have a list of patient rights and responsibilities, established by the American Hospital Association. These rights and responsibilities are usually published and posted throughout the hospital. By law, all patients have certain rights. Some patient rights include the right to:
Each patient should obtain a list of his or her rights and responsibilities prior to a hospital admission.
Most hospital rooms have a bed, bedside table, chair telephone, television, and bathroom. Some hospitals charge a fee for use of the telephone or television; patients should be notified of these charges prior to their hospital admission. Each patient area has a call signal button so the patient can notify the nursing staff if help is needed. Most hospital rooms are doubles that are shared by two patients, unless a private room was previously requested. Some hospitals also have wards in which four or more patients stay in one room. Three nutritionally balanced meals are provided to the patient daily during a hospital stay; daily menus are usually provided for patients to select their food choices, as applicable. (Some patients have dietary restrictions so their food choices may be limited.)
Sometimes, the patient's personal or family physician is not the attending physician who is in charge of the patient's overall care and treatment in the hospital. The attending physician may be a doctor on the hospital staff or a specialist. Fellows, residents, or interns may also provide care. Fellows are doctors who receive training in a special area of medicine after their residency training; residents are doctors who have recently graduated from medical school and are training in a medical specialty; and interns are first-year residents.
Nurses work closely with doctors to supervise the care provided in the hospital. Nurses take the patient's vital signs , administer medications, provide treatments, and teach patients how to care for themselves. The head nurse, also called the clinical nurse manager, coordinates care for each patient on the nursing unit.
Other health care providers include medical technologists, radiographers, and nuclear medicine technicians who perform diagnostic tests; therapists such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists who provide specialized care as needed; and dietitians to provide nutrition counseling and nutrition assessments. There are several other health care providers who may assist patients during their hospital stay; patients should ask for more information about the types of providers they may be in contact with during their hospital stay.
It may be helpful for the patient to select a spokesperson from the family to communicate with the health care providers. This may improve communication with the health care providers as well as to other family members. The patient should also communicate his or her wishes regarding the spokesperson's telephone communications to other family members.
Educational classes may be available for family members to learn more about the patient's condition and what to expect during the patient's recovery at home .
If a family member needs to contact the patient or the patient's other family members, the family member should call the hospital and ask for the nursing unit where the patient is staying. The nursing unit staff can connect the caller to the patient's room, take a message, or connect the caller to the patient's family members who are present. Since every hospital has patient confidentiality rules, some information may not be able to be disclosed over the telephone.
Most hospitals prohibit the use of cellular phones in patient care areas, as they interfere with the operation of medical equipment.
Most hospitals are smoke-free environments. There are usually designated outside areas where visitors can smoke.
Most hospitals have designated visiting hours that should be adhered to by family members and friends.
Most hospitals have on-site pharmacies where family members can fill the patient's prescriptions; gift shops; and a cafeteria. Usually a list of on-site and offsite dining options can be obtained from the hospital's information desk or social work department.
Preadmission testing includes a review of the patient's medical history, a complete physical examination , a variety of tests, patient education, and meetings with the health care team. The review of the patient's medical history includes an evaluation of the patient's previous and current medical conditions, surgeries and procedures, medications, and any other health conditions such as allergies that may impact the patient's hospital stay. Preadmission testing is generally scheduled a few days before the hospital admission.
The patient may find it helpful to bring along a family member or friend to the preadmission testing appointments. This caregiver can help the patient remember important details to prepare for the hospital stay.
Preadmission instructions include information about reserving blood products if necessary, taking or discontinuing medications, eating and drinking, smoking cessation , limiting activities, and preparing items to bring to the hospital.
Blood transfusions may be necessary during surgery. A blood transfusion is the delivery of whole blood or blood components to replace blood lost through trauma, surgery, or disease. About one in three hospitalized patients will require a blood transfusion. The surgeon can provide an estimate of how much blood the patient's procedure may require.
To decrease the risk of infection and immunologic complications, some hospitals offer a blood donation program if surgery is scheduled or if it is known that blood products will be needed by the patient during his or her hospital stay. Autologous blood (from the patient) is the safest blood available for transfusion, since there is no risk of disease transmission. Methods of autologous donation or collection include:
The physician determines what type of blood collection process, if any, is appropriate.
Depending on the reason for the hospital stay, certain medications may be prescribed or restricted. The health care team will provide specific guidelines. If certain medications need to be restricted before the hospital stay, the patient will receive a complete list of the medications (including prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications) to avoid taking. The patient should not bring any medications to the hospital; all necessary medications, as ordered by the doctor, will be provided in the hospital.
Before most procedures, the patient is advised not to eat or drink anything after midnight the evening before the surgery. This includes no smoking and no gum chewing. The patient should not drink any alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours before being hospitalized, unless instructed otherwise.
Patients are encouraged to quit smoking and stop using tobacco products prior to their hospital admission and to make a commitment to be a nonsmoker. Quitting smoking will help the patient recover more quickly. There are several smoking cessation programs available in the community. The patient should ask a health care provider for more information if he or she needs help quitting smoking.
The patient should eat healthy foods, rest, and exercise as normal before a hospitalization, unless given other instructions. The patient should try to get enough sleep to build up energy for the surgery.
The patient should make arrangements ahead of time for someone to care for children and take care of any other necessary activities at home such as getting the mail or newspapers. The patient should inform family members about the scheduled hospital stay, so they can provide help and support.
The patient should bring a list of current medications, allergies, and appropriate medical records upon admission to the hospital. The patient should also bring a prepared list of questions to ask.
The patient should not bring valuables such as jewelry, credit cards, checkbook, or other such items. A small amount of cash (no more than $20) may be packed to purchase items such as newspapers or magazines. If necessary, patients can secure their personal belongings in the hospital cashier's office, safe, or vault for safekeeping until discharge. Most hospitals state in their policies that they are not responsible for lost or stolen personal items.
The patient should only pack what is needed. Some essential items include a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb or brush, deodorant, razor (not electric), slippers, robe, pajamas, and one change of comfortable clothes to wear when going home. The patient should also pack eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dentures, including their carrying cases, if applicable. These items should be labeled with the patient's name when not in use, should be stored in their carrying cases, and put in the bedside stand so they are not lost.
The patient should bring a list of family members' names and phone numbers to contact in an emergency. The patient may also want to pack a book or other personal item such as a family picture.
Personal electronic devices such as hair dryers, curling irons, electric razors, personal televisions, computers, and other electronic devices are not permitted in the hospital, since these devices may interfere with the hospital's medical equipment.
The patient should arrange for transportation home, since the effects of certain medications given in the hospital make it unsafe to drive.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the patient first reports to the hospital registration or admitting area. The patient will be required to complete paperwork and show an insurance identification card, if insured. Often, a pre-registration process performed prior to the date of hospital admission helps make the registration process run smoothly. An identification bracelet that includes the patient's name and doctor's name will be placed on the patient's wrist.
If the patient is not feeling well upon arrival to the hospital, a family member or caregiver can help the patient complete the admitting process. Sometimes, a patient's illness may require that the hospital stay be rescheduled.
The health care provider will review the informed consent form and ask the patient to sign it. Informed consent is an educational process between health care providers and patients. Before any procedure is performed or any form of medical care is provided, the patient is asked to sign a consent form. Before signing the form, the patient should understand the nature and purpose of the procedure or treatment, the risks and benefits of the procedure, and alternatives, including the option of not proceeding with the procedure. Signing the informed consent form indicates that the patient permits the surgery or procedure to be performed. During the discussion about the procedure, the health care providers are available to answer the patient's questions about the consent form or procedure.
As part of the admissions evaluation, the patient will be asked about advance directives. Advance directives are legal documents that increase a patient's control over medical decisions. A patient may decide medical treatment in advance, in the event that he or she becomes physically or mentally unable to communicate his or her wishes. Advance directives either state what kind of treatment the patient wants to receive ( living will ), or authorize another person to make medical decisions for the patient when he or she is unable to do so (durable power of attorney ).
Advance directives are not required and may be changed or canceled at any time. Any change should be written, signed, and dated in accordance with state law, and copies should be given to the physician and to others who received original copies. Advance directives can be revoked either in writing or by destroying the document.
Advance directives are not do-not-resuscitate ( DNR ) orders. A DNR order indicates that a person—usually with a terminal illness or other serious medical condition—has decided not to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed in the event that his or her heart or breathing stops.
Some routine tests will be performed, including blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and weight checks; blood tests; urinalysis ; chest x ray ; and electrocardiogram (ECG). A brief physical exam will be performed. The health care team will ask several questions to evaluate the patient's condition. The patient should inform the health care team if he or she drinks alcohol on a daily basis so precautions can be taken to avoid complications.
Patients who receive proper preparation for their hospital experience, including physical and psychological preparation, are less anxious and are more likely to make a quicker recovery at home, with fewer complications.
See also Managed care plans ; Medicaid .
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Angela M. Costello