Patient and Visitors’ Center
Information for patients
Planning your hospital stay will help you arrive prepared to make the most out of a sometimes stressful situation. We are here to help you while you are in our care. These tips will help you prepare for that time.
Before your stay
Before your stay, make arrangements for your home, family and pets. This will give you peace of mind and allow you to concentrate on your recovery. You may meet with your physician before your hospital stay. If so, bring your written questions, list of medications and your insurance information to the appointment. This appointment will allow you to review your medical history and discuss risks and benefits of your procedure and may result in routine tests.
Hospital Pre-Registration and Admission
You may be instructed to pre-register for your hospital stay. This allows you to come to the admissions department before the day of your admission to provide registration information and complete financial arrangements as necessary.
Our admissions staff will help you complete several forms for consenting to treatment, releasing information, assigning insurance benefits and advance directives. You will be provided with a copy of our pain management program and the Pathways to Personal Choices booklet.
Your room assignment will be made on the basis of your medical condition, your physician’s request, space available and your personal needs. Family and friends can call your hospital room directly by dialing 742-9 + patient room number.
King’s Daughters Hospital will admit and treat all people without regard to race, national origin, religion, age or handicap.
Patient Responsibilities
Take these simple steps to ensure a safe and quick recovery:
- If you smoke, quit or cut down.
- Stop drinking alcohol at least two days before surgery.
- Ask your physician about taking medications, including aspirin and ibuprofen, before coming to the hospital.
- Bring your advance directive, insurance identification cards, Medicare cards, and other pertinent health insurance information.
- Bring your regular medicines in their original containers so the nurse can record the correct name, dose, and times you take the medication.
- Bring any test results with you.
- Ask, ask, ask! Please ask your physician and nurse any questions or address any of your concerns with them.
- Leave valuables at home. The hospital cannot assume responsibility for loss of money or personal items kept in patient rooms.
- Bring only a few personal items such as pajamas or nightgown, robe, non-skid slippers, and essential personal care items such as toothbrush, toothpaste and shampoo.
- Please take care with your contact lenses, dentures, glasses and hearing aides. Please store them in their protective case in the bedside table. Frequently leaving these items on your meal tray may result in loss.
Before Surgery
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery, including mints or sips of water.
- If you think you have a fever, cold, or rash, call your physician prior to coming to the hospital.
- Ask when and where to check in for your procedure.
- Follow specific instructions given for bathing/showering prior to surgery.
- Remove make-up, lipstick and nail polish.
Meals
Your physician will determine what food you can have while in the hospital. Our food service department makes every effort to accommodate your requests while following doctors’ orders
Discharge
Your attending physician will dismiss you. Maternity patients must be discharged by their attending physician and newborns must be discharged by their pediatrician. The actual time you leave the hospital depends on many factors and may be several hours after you are told you can go home.
Patient Satisfaction
Our #1 goal is to help you recover from your illness or surgery. We want to do that in the best way possible. You will receive a survey in the mail following your inpatient hospital stay. We ask that you please give us your feedback regarding your hospital stay and return the survey in the postage-paid envelope. All survey information is confidential.
Parking
For your convenience, free parking is provided in the lot in front of the hospital. Visitors may also park in this lot at no charge.
What to expect during your stay
For additional information regarding you stay, please choose the appropriate link below.
What To Expect During Your Hospital Stay (English version)