Preparing You for Leaving the Hospital

Transcription

1 Preparing You for Leaving the Hospital

2 Did you know that sometimes patients have to return to the hospital after their stay? We call these patient readmissions, and know that returning to the hospital is the last thing you probably want to do. At Sentara, we want you to be involved in your healing process and want to do everything we can to help get you ready for the next step in your recovery. Our goal is to enable you to finish getting better from the comfort of your home or next care facility. When you leave the hospital, there are a lot of things you need to do to take care of yourself. You need to: See your doctor, ideally within seven days Take your medicines Exercise Eat healthy foods Know who to call with questions or problems This brochure includes the most important things you will need to know and do.

3 Your Patient Caregiver and How They Can Help Sometimes, patients ask family members or friends to help them manage their health and daily activities at home. If you do not have someone that can help, please let our staff know so we can assist you in getting the help you need. If you do have someone in mind, involving them as you get ready to leave the hospital can make it a lot easier to recover. We highly encourage you to ask for someone s help and we call this person your patient caregiver. Who is a Patient Caregiver? A person or group of people who you have asked to assist you as you recover and we will keep their name in your medical record Someone you trust and are able to include in your talks with doctors, nurses and pharmacists They may be a family member, friend and/or neighbor How Can a Patient Caregiver Help You? It is important for you and your patient caregiver to discuss your needs and be on the same page about what help you may need as you get better. For example, they may, but don t have to: Speak with your doctors, nurses and pharmacists about your care Provide emotional and physical help such as feeding, bathing, walking, filling out menus and receiving updates Work with others to schedule follow-up phone calls and visits, which may include getting home or getting to and from your appointments Understand your medications, follow-up care and plan for home

4 Questions for You to Ask During Your Stay We encourage you and your patient caregiver to listen to and participate in discussions with staff throughout your stay and as you get ready to leave the hospital. An important way we will communicate with you is through the whiteboard in your room. Additionally, we recommend that you both: Write down what your doctors and nurses say Make lists of what needs to be done and who can help Don t be shy! Ask questions until you understand and get the answers you need Here are some examples of questions you may ask: What exercises are good for me? What should I eat? What activities or foods should I avoid? When are my next appointments? What issues should I keep an eye out for? If I have problems, when and how should I report them to a doctor or nurse? Talk with our staff such as social workers, physical therapists and chaplains about your care or other help you may need. Our team is here to help guide you through this process and ensure you understand everything you need to. If you are not clear about anything, please ask.

5 Managing Your Medications It is important that you or your patient caregiver provide a list of your medication(s) and allergies. This is helpful for us to know so that we continue all necessary medications you were taking at home. Your doctor may adjust your medications while you are in the hospital based on your needs. We know that information about the different medications you already take or will need to take can be confusing. So, we want to make sure you understand your prescriptions and that we answer any questions you may have. Some questions you might want to ask about your medications are: Why am I taking this medication? How do I take this medication and for how long? How will my body react to this medication? What are some things I need to know or do while taking this medication? Can I have my new prescriptions filled at the hospital before I leave? Who do I talk to if I have a problem or question about my medications? As you get ready to leave the hospital, for your convenience, many of our hospitals have a program called Sentara To Home. This program can assist you with filling your medications before you leave the hospital. Ask your nurse for more details.

6 When you leave the hospital, there may be changes to your medication list. Your doctor and nurses will review your medications with you and give you papers that will explain your medications. Remember that these are your new instructions and replace what you were following before you were admitted. It is very important that you understand and take your medications as prescribed on this new list. This will help you stay on track with your recovery. If you think you will have any problem getting your medications after you leave, or have questions, talk to a member of our staff. Follow-Up Care You will need to see one of your doctors within seven days of leaving the hospital. Our staff will tell you about this follow-up and can help you and your patient caregiver make these appointments. It is very important that you come to your follow-up appointment as your doctor will examine you and review your treatment plan to ensure you are recovering. This will help us address any problems that may cause you to return to the hospital and adjust your plan of care to prevent that from happening. You may also receive follow-up phone calls after you leave the hospital. These calls will help us to check on you and make sure you are doing well and have everything that you need.

7 What to Expect When Leaving the Hospital As you continue to get better and prepare to leave the hospital, keep in mind: When and how to get to your follow-up appointment Your list of medications and how to take them You may choose to fill your medications before you leave the hospital (ask your nurse for more details) What problems to look for and who to call if they occur What help and tools you will need at home and how to get them, such as crutches, oxygen or other medical equipment and supplies Ways our staff will follow up with you after you leave Resources that are available to you such as community support, phone numbers for our staff and emergency contacts We know there is a lot of information and it may seem overwhelming. If at any time you have questions or are worried that your patient caregiver may not be able to help you, please reach out to us. We can help you find the support you need. We are here for you. Best of luck in your recovery.

8 You can view the Preparing You for Leaving the Hospital video at any time at Your community, not-for-profit health partner 05/2016