Information to Remember About Hospital Stays

Dear Congregation,

The following information by Gail Gazelle, M.D. was written in 2007 regarding hospital stays. With the recent hospitalization of my dad prior to his passing, I found this information very helpful and beneficial… hopefully you will too!!!

Pick an assertive person to be your advocate. Doctors can be intimidating. The white coat and busy schedule can make you feel like the doctor has to attend to matters that are more important than your issues. Remember, you are important! Choose an advocate who is assertive and not afraid to ask questions.
Always bring a list of all medications you are taking, both prescription and over-the-counter. You may be due for one of your medications or there could be interactions between your current medications and a new one the doctors want to start.
Never give your dentures, hearing aids, eyeglasses, or other personal appliances to hospital staff. These items frequently get lost. You spent time and money having these fitted and you should not risk losing them.
Request and write down the name of anyone entering your room. You will find that many people enter your room including doctors, doctors-in-training, medical students, nurses, nurses’ aides, food handlers, and other hospital employees. You have a right to know who is coming and going and why they are there. The person who mentioned something important might be the one whose name you forget. We all forget when we are under stress.
Record all interactions with doctors and nurses. Unfortunately, mistakes and miscommunication can occur. By keeping track, you will be in a better position to retrace your steps.
Do not be afraid to speak up if you do not understand what is happening or what the doctor is saying. Medical language can be very complicated and it is easy to get confused. You deserve to have things explained in a way that makes sense to you. (I would also add the following: Every time someone gives you a medication, ask what it is and the purpose/reason for taking it.)
Make sure your privacy is respected. Whenever there is a discussion of important or sensitive information, ask to meet in a private room.
Ask the nurses and doctors if they have washed their hands. While it may seem impolite, just tell them that you have a germ phobia! At some hospitals, all employees wear buttons that say, “Ask me if I have washed my hands.” They do this to empower you to ask.
Ask questions about every test your doctor proposes. Does the test require any special preparation? Will the test be painful? Are there possible complications that the test can cause? The more information you have, the better prepared you can be.
Do not let the doctor operate on the wrong side of your body! This sounds obvious, but sometimes it happens. Make sure you know which side of your body needs surgery. On the day of surgery, you and your advocate should remind everyone involved in your care which side this is. Even if you feel like you are being a pest, it is worth it to make sure you do not have surgery on the wrong side of your body.
NEVER, EVER leave someone alone in the hospital who cannot communicate with hospital staff, especially small children, stroke patients, etc. (This is my recommendation to you, not the author of this article). Hospitals are understaffed and chances for a mistake happening are even greater with any patient who cannot communicate with the hospital staff.

My hope is that this information may save you or a loved one!!!

Blessings,
Pastor Daryl Bennett