How To Maximize A Stay In A Hospital

You as a patient, and/or your patient advocate(s), need to participate in your care in hospital in order to maximize your chances for a good healing experience and to minimize chances for a bad experience.

The following steps will help maximize your time in a hospital.  Each step is each described in another section of this article.

• Do what you can to avoid infections and medical error.
• Learn what is supposed to happen on a day-to-day basis and overall.
• Get the care you need when you need it.
• Review your daily nursing schedule.
• Become acquainted with the staff.
• Encourage visits from guests.
• Keep in touch with your primary care physician.
• Take steps to permit sleep.
• Do not put up with unnecessary pain.
• Complain when you don't get what you need.
• If you are going to have surgery, take the steps you can to prevent surgical error.
• Understand the common words professionals use in a hospital.
• Think about how you look.
• Ask for spirituality care if you want it.
• Do what you can to avoid identity theft.
• If you are hearing or vision impaired, or if english is not your first language, ask for help.
• Know your rights.
• Execute a Health Care Power of Attorney and consider executing other Advance Directives.

To make life easier when you return home, start planning for life after you are let go ("discharged") from the hospital. 

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