Content Overview 
- Summary
- If You Are Hearing Or Vision Impaired, Or If English Is Not Your First Language, Ask For Help.
- Learn What Is Supposed To Happen On A Daily Basis.
- Become Acquainted With The Staff
- Do What You Can To Avoid Infections And Medical Errors
- Have Guests. The more the better. It Helps
- Get The Care You Need When You Need It
- Keep In Touch With Your Primary Care Physician
- How To Take Steps To Permit Sleep
- Know Your Rights
- You Do Not Have To Put Up With Unnecessary Pain
- How To Complain When You Don't Get What You Need
- What You Can Do To Prevent Surgical Errors
- Common Words Professionals Use In A Hospital
- Ask For Spirituality Care If You Want It
- Do What You Can To Avoid Identity Theft
- Think About How You Look
- Ask If You Are On "Observation Status"
- Consider Health Care Power of Attorney and Other Advance Directives
How To Maximize A Stay In A Hospital
Ask If You Are On "Observation Status"
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Sometimes a patient is admitted to a hospital on an "observation status." While on "observation status" you stay in the hospital, and receive hospital services. However, you are not considered to be a patient.
"Observation status" is meaningful when it comes to your bill. Medicare and some private insurance charge patients a 20 percent co-payment. There is also no coverage for the cost of post-hospital nursing care or rehabiltation which require a minimum stay as a patient in a hospital before coverage takes effect.
In theory, observation status should not last more than a day or two. However, hospitals are sometimes using it for longer stays to avoid Medicare penalties in case there is a readmission soon after discharge.
If you are on observation status, it is advisable to insist that you be changed to "patient" status as soon as possible.
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