Receiving the news that you are going to have to stay in hospital for treatment is not something many people will look forward to. It’s something I myself have had to deal with on a few occasions recently. But it is often the first step towards your long-term recovery and therefore should be embraced, despite the difficulty of the circumstances.
Whether you have been in hospital several times before; or this is your first time, it is always worth getting acquainted with some of the essential information about staying in hospitals. And this is where this guide comes in.
Here are a few things that you need to think about and/or do once you know you are going to be going under the knife. This will help you to make your stay easier and prepare for when you are discharged and can return back to the comfort of your own home.
Get all the information you can beforehand
As a patient, you always have the right to have every medical procedure you undergo thoroughly explained to you in an easy to understand manner. This way you know exactly what is going to happen, the risks, and the reasons why. To help you with this, finding some useful questions to ask before your surgery will ensure that you and your family are clued up on everything you need to know to make sure this goes smoothly. You should always ask things such as:
- Why do you need to have this operation?
- How long is the recovery time going to be?
- What are your options when it comes to anesthesia?
- What are the potential risks vs rewards of having this operation?
- If you are on medication, what do you need to do before the operation? You might find you shouldn’t continue with your current medication for a period of time before or after the surgery.
Don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself either. It’s always important to ask the right questions and be as clued up as possible, but any good medical professional will be more than aware of the need to ensure that you know what is happening and what you need to do before and after your hospital stay.
Always be prepared
You are going to need to bring things with you to make your stay and your recovery as easy as possible. Regardless of the length of the stay. Taking a look through this list of what to pack when going to stay at hospital will help you to make sure you don’t miss anything.
As a general rule, pack several pairs of comfy pajamas that are easy to take on and off. Bring your own toiletries so that you are able to keep yourself clean and take regular showers. And have health insurance details to hand that might be needed, as well as details of pre-existing medical conditions.
Alongside the practical necessities, always remember to bring things to keep you entertained; such as books and puzzles, as you might not be able to get up and about for a while. Find out what the hospital visiting hours are and how family and friends can contact you – most hospitals will allow you to take phone calls as long as you are well enough to do so.
Don’t worry
Unnecessary stress can be damaging to one’s mental and physical health. So don’t worry – you’ve done your research on the hospital you’re receiving treatment at. You’ve met your surgeon and gone through the pros and cons of your surgery. Now it’s time to trust in those who have your well-being in their hands. And with good reason too – doctors and surgeons today have more information and assistance than ever before on how to meet their patients’ needs. And clinical documentation – so important in patient care – has never been better, with applications and programs even available for remote patient monitoring following surgery. You could even get involved yourself (once you have recovered!) by transcribing for a company that produces this kind of amazing software, such as iMedX.
image: iMedX
If something does go wrong, you have the right to seek help
You have rights as a patient. Your patient rights need to be respected because if they aren’t you could suffer more illness or pain. If this happens, it could be a case of medical negligence, and you need to get independent advice as soon as practically possible. As a patient, you have rights, and if these are not respected, you could suffer more illness or pain. If this happens, it is a case of medical negligence, and you need to get into contact with The Medical Negligence Experts to help you get the justice you deserve. The legal professionals will be able to go through your case with a fine tooth comb and help secure you the compensation you deserve should you find the level of care was not up to standard.
What are your experiences of hospital stays?
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