Navigating Your Hospital Stay
Topic Overview
Hospitals can be big, confusing places, especially if you've never been a patient in one before.
But by taking the time to learn about how hospitals work and what you can expect, you may be able to lower your stress and concentrate on what's important: feeling better.
Before You Go
There is much you can do ahead of time to make your hospital experience go more smoothly.
Learn how to manage stress
Fill out important forms
What to Expect
How the hospital works
Being an active patient
Your treatment
Making decisions about your treatment
Preventing problems
Your child in the hospital
When—and After—You Leave
As a smart patient, you want to find out exactly what you need to do after you leave the hospital to stay as healthy as possible.
Taking charge of your health after you're home is one of the best ways to prevent a return trip to the hospital.
Other Places To Get Help
Organizations
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Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Consumers & Patients
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| 540 Gaither Road |
| Suite 2000 |
| Rockville, MD 20850 |
| Phone: |
(301) 427-1364
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| Web Address: |
www.ahrq.gov/consumer |
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This Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) website has evidence-based tips on staying healthy, choosing quality care, getting safe care, understanding diseases, comparing medical treatments, and more. AHRQ is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It supports research that will help people make more informed decisions and improve the quality of health care services.
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National Institute on Aging: Hospital Hints
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| P.O. Box 8057 |
| Gaithersburg, MD 20898 |
| Phone: |
1-800-222-2225 |
| TDD: |
1-800-222-4225 |
| Web Address: |
www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/hospital-hints |
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This website includes tips to help you prepare for a hospital stay. It also has information about health care workers in the hospital, hospital care for older patients, and patient rights.
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National Patient Safety Foundation
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| 268 Summer Street, 6th Floor |
| Boston, MA 02210 |
| Phone: |
(617) 391-9900 |
| Fax: |
(617) 391-9999 |
| Web Address: |
www.npsf.org |
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The National Patient Safety Foundation is an organization dedicated
to improving the safety of patients. The foundation works to raise public
awareness about patient safety and is a resource for people and organizations
who are concerned about the safety of patients.
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References
Other Works Consulted
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2011). 20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors. Patient Fact Sheet (AHRQ Publication No. 11-0089). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Also available online:
- HealthGrades (2012). The Ninth Annual HealthGrades Patient Safety and Satisfaction Report. Denver: HealthGrades. Available online:
- Hyman D (2012). Advancing the quality and safety of care. In WW Hay Jr et al., eds., Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Pediatrics, 21st ed., pp. 1–8. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Sanders J (2011). Family-centered care of the child during illness and hospitalization. In MJ Hockenberry, D Wilson, eds., Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children, 9th ed., pp. 964–997. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.
- Wachter RM (2012). Quality of care and patient safety. In L Goldman, A Shafer, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine, 24th ed., pp. 41–44. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Credits
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By
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Healthwise Staff |
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Primary Medical Reviewer
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Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
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Specialist Medical Reviewer
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Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
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Last Revised
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December 18, 2012 |
Last Revised:
December 18, 2012