Have someone act as your advocate or at least have someone who will keep track of the information that needs to be gathered.  Oftentimes, the patient is not in the condition to ask questions or record answers, and may not  have the energy to advocate for him or herself.

Some of the questions to be asked and answered include which doctors have treated you while you are in the hospital, what tests are needed before you can be released, and what tasks you must be able to do before you are judged ready to leave the hospital.

There are times when various tests have been performed, but the patient is not informed of the results and/or what the results mean.  A follow-up system will help you to know to call the doctor’s office or ask a nurse to get the test results.

Also, make a list of the tests that remain to be performed on you prior to your release from the hospital; what these tests are for; what the results will indicate; what additional treatment will be needed; and what the possible diagnosis will be.

Prior to your release from the hospital you probably have to be able to accomplish certain tasks.  These can include getting out of bed by yourself; being able to walk to the bathroom; having a bowel movement; and/or being hydrated to a certain level.

When you are released it will be important to understand what restrictions you will have relating to food, drink, and physical activities.  For example, will you be able to take a shower, drive, drink alcohol, eat normally?  This information will help your caregivers take better care of you and help speed your recovery. It is also critical to confirm which medications you are to take once you return home.  Medications may have been added or removed during your hospital stay.

Being in the hospital can be a time of great stress and it will, hopefully, be a time of great healing.  Remember to have someone help you to ask questions and record the answers, so that you can understand the your treatment plan and your prognosis.  You will record contact information for your doctors; detailed information about tests and their results; what you need to accomplish physically before you leave the hospital; and what restrictions you will have upon release.

Although the hospital will supply you with some toiletries, you may prefer to use your own.  You can bring lotion, shampoo, conditioner, etc.  Do not use heavily perfumed items in case you are placed in a room with a chemically sensitive person.

Although your room may have a television, you may want to have a portable DVD player and some of your favorite movies.  Humor can help with healing, so this would be a good time to indulge your funny bone.

If friends or family want to know a good gift for you, you might suggest books and magazines.  A good mystery can help take your mind off of your physical discomforts.  You can also listen to your favorite music on CD or tune in to talk radio—choose whatever will make your time in the hospital less stressful and help your recovery.

It can be very difficult to rest at night in the hospital due to the noise and the amount of light.  Because of this, you might consider wearing a sleep mask and ear plugs.

When you are admitted to the hospital, bring at least a 2- or 3-day supply of your prescription medications in the original prescription bottles and give these medications to the nursing staff so that your doctor can decide if you will continue to receive these medicines and in what doses. If you bring more than a 2- or 3- day supply, the hospital may refuse to administer those medications to you out of liability concerns, and they could be lost before they get returned to you.

If you did not bring any of your own medicine, the hospital may have to fill prescriptions for you and sometimes that can take extra time and possible expense.

Remember that there will be many times when you are not in your room or you are sleeping, so do not keep any valuables, cash, keys, your driver’s license, Social Security or Medicare cards in your room.  Once you have been admitted, have your friend or a family member remove your personal information cards and any valuables for safe keeping.

Being in the hospital can be a very stressful time.  It is good to remember ways in which you can be made more comfortable to help speed your recovery.  Be sure to bring items to make you feel more at home; things to entertain you; prescribed medications for doctor review; and keep your personal data safe.  That way, you can concentrate on getting well.

Ask your doctor if there are alternative tests that could be considered, and why the particular tests were chosen over others.  It may be that  there are tests that would be useful in your case, but they are not available at the lab or the hospital in your area.  In that case, check with your doctor to see if he or she would recommend going to a different area to obtain those tests.

There may be further tests that are scheduled in order to help diagnose your disease or condition, so that a treatment plan can be developed for you.  You will also want to know whom to contact to schedule the test; the location of the lab or hospital; how to prepare for the test; when the results will be ready; whom to contact to receive the test results; and when you will next see your doctor.

It is important to remember that some tests require special preparation.  You may be required to be fasting for a certain period of time and/or to  withhold water.  You may even be required to have a fasting blood test, then another blood test one some hours later after a meal.   Sometimes the directions for the test are not clear, and it is a good idea to check ahead of time with your doctor or the lab.

In some cases, after all tests and procedures have been performed, you may want to see if a clinical trial would be appropriate for you.  Ask your doctor to research for a clinical trial for your condition.  Even if it is only available out of your geographic area, you may be willing to relocate temporarily for treatment.

Always check before all procedures and tests to be sure of your insurance coverage and to see if you need pre-approval.  When you  call  your insurance company, write down  the date, whom you talked to, and what was said.  Also make sure you write down the number you called and the direct line or extension number for the person you spoke with.  You may have been transferred several times during the call and it can be very difficult to get back to the same person if you need to.

When you have a complete record of the results of tests, and which medical tests remain to be done, you will be able to discuss your treatment options with your doctor and feel more in control of your care.

You will want to have a list of the medicines you are taking, and you will want to keep track of answers to questions you have about your care and treatment. If you are not able to act as your own best health care advocate, it is good to designate someone who can. Also, to make the hospital stay more comfortable, you may want to bring things from home, such as books, slippers, and a robe.

There will be questions that you need to ask so that you can make informed health care decisions. You will want to know the names of the doctors that have treated you in the hospital; tests that were performed and with what results; the diagnosis, in medical and layperson’s terms; the prognosis for your condition or disease; any new medicines that are prescribed; possible side effects of proposed treatment; and information about any appropriate clinical trials.

It is especially important to keep track of medicines prescribed before, during, and upon release from the hospital. Make a note of when medicines are first prescribed, when dosages are adjusted, and all medicines that are discontinued. An accurate list will help protect you from over-medicating, under-medicating, or having ineffective combinations of medications.

When you are scheduled to be discharged from the hospital, there will be a “discharge meeting.” The discharge planner coordinates ordering equipment, home health services, outpatient therapy, and many other services. The planner will make sure that the doctor has issued prescription orders for all services you need. It is a good idea to attend the discharge meeting (or have someone attend on your behalf) so that your needs may be more fully addressed.

Also at the discharge meeting it will be decided if you will go home, or to some other facility. You may be placed in a rehabilitation hospital, a skilled nursing facility, an assisted living residence, or home with help from a caretaker, family member or friend.

A rehabilitation hospital is where they have an intensive therapy program—often several hours a day of therapy. This is a place patients are sent when they are too “well” for the hospital but not yet strong enough to return home. Another option for care between the hospital and the home setting is a skilled nursing facility, which will usually offer some rehabilitation services. Sometimes, you will need more help than you can get at home, and you will be released to an assisted living facility.

Issues of your mobility can be assessed at the hospital, especially if you request it. Many people leaving the hospital will have specialized equipment for their recovery period. Beyond a wheelchair and walker, there are other items of durable medical equipment that help with accessibility and mobility, such as grab bars, raised toilet seats, and railings for the bathroom. If you are going to a rehabilitation hospital, skilled nursing facility, or assisted living facility, many of these items will be provided for you to use while you are there.

Additional details will be needed if you are going from the hospital to your home. Will your necessary equipment be there already? What parts of the home will or will not be accessible to you? What needs to be done to make your home more comfortable and accessible for you? If you ask questions in advance, adjustments can be made so that your return home goes more smoothly. While a hospital stay is never looked forward to, with some planning, asking the right questions, and recording information, the stay may be less stressful. Further, when you have adequate information about your health and your treatment options, you can make more informed decisions and feel more in control of your life and your health.

If you are hospitalized, it is also important to clarify which doctor is in charge of your care—many patients have had the experience of each doctor deferring to another doctor and you don’t know which doctor is the one to ask about the next step in your treatment. Ask the doctor who admitted you if he is in charge of your care or if another physician is the “lead doctor” on your case.

You can become better informed about your illness and treatment options by asking your medical staff for information, and by using other reliable sources.  To check on the most up-to-date treatment recommendations based on the latest scientific evidence, go to http://www.guideline.gov.   This free information is made available by the National Guidelines Clearinghouse.

Also, you will want to ask your doctor to explain your diagnosis, in simple terms.  While there certainly is a very detailed medical description with lots of jargon you can’t understand unless you work in the medical field, there will also be a rather simple explanation in layman’s terms that describes your particular condition.  Be sure you ask questions until you understand the explanations.

Find out the prognosis for recovery, maintenance, or remission.  It helps to know if it is typical to feel much better in two weeks, or if it is more likely to take two months.  It may be that therapy or rehabilitation will be part of the recovery process.

If the disease is not curable, it may be one that can be managed or maintained, such as diabetes.   Also, it is now fairly common to hear that a particular cancer is not in “remission” but that the person is managing the disease by using some form of long-term chemotherapy.

You will want to know if the condition is hereditary, so you can inform children or other relatives if there is a need for them to be tested, or to make lifestyle changes.

A lot of times there are several treatment options that can be considered.  Seek out information about the risks and benefits of each of them.  Be sure to ask your doctor to explain all treatment options, and why a particular option is being recommended for your case.  Remember, you can always get a second medical opinion so that you can feel more comfortable that you are making an informed choice.

In some cases, your best hope for recovery is through a clinical trial.  Ask your doctor if he or she can research to see if there are any clinical trials for which you would qualify, even if they are not located in your area.  You could choose to re-locate temporarily for the purpose of a promising clinical trial.

In summary, if you understand your medical diagnosis and the various treatment options, including risks and benefits, you can make an informed decision about your care.  Sometimes, just understanding the details about your diagnosis and what will happen now and in the future can be very helpful.

During a hospitalization, some of your medications may be discontinued, dosages may be changed, and you may be put on other medications.  It is a good idea to keep track of these changes so that it is clear what medicines you will need to take when you are discharged from the hospital.

For each medication you can list: 

(1) the name,
(2) dosage,
(3) the color and size of the pill,
(4) how many times a day to take it,
(5) when it was first prescribed and
(6) why it is prescribed. 

Also note all pharmacies you use to fill prescriptions.

Without a method for tracking your medications before and after a hospitalization, you run the risk of over-medicating, under-medicating, or having ineffective combinations of medications.

There are computer programs that medical staff can use to check for drug interactions and recommended dosages.  For example, it could be that you were prescribed the correct medication, but the dosage was incorrect.  Or a medication can be appropriate, but not when combined with another medication.

In addition to having a doctor or pharmacist check for drug interactions, you can also check for yourself on the internet.  There are many free sites that allow you to list your medications and dosages, and see if there are any interactions or warnings.  Also, the internet provides the ability to check for drug interactions with food, tobacco, and alcohol.   Use the search terms “free medication interaction checker” and “medication and food interaction checker” to get you started.

There are specific questions you can ask about each medication at the time it is prescribed.  You will want to know what to do if you experience some of the common side effects, for example, and what to do when you miss a dose or accidentally take an extra dose.  Find out if there is any required monitoring or testing while on the medication, and what, if any, food, drink, or activities should be avoided while on the medication (such as dairy products, alcohol, driving, exposure to sun, etc.).  Should the medication be taken with food or water?

Some medications have an immediate efffect and some take time for you to notice a difference.  Check to see how soon it will start to work and how you will know if it is working appropriately for you.   Check to see if there is a less expensive medication, or a generic formula, that can be prescribed that can achieve the same results for you.

It is good to ask how long you will be on a particular medicine.  Also, please remember that you should only stop taking a medication when the prescription runs out and the doctor does not authorize any refills.  Do not stop taking it merely because you are feeling well.  You may only be feeling well because you are on the medication, and stopping it could be dangerous to your health.

In summary, it is best to be informed and to keep your doctors informed of all medications that are prescribed for you prior to, during, and after you are released from the hospital.  Compare your “before hospitalization” medication list with your “after hospitalization” medication list to be sure nothing has been accidentally left off your list.  Remember, if any of your medications change, make sure you always update your list and note the date of the change.