As we start to gain some insights on the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear that the need to be prepared for an emergency hospitalization is very important. Equally important, is to have a conversation with your loved one, friend, or private patient advocate who will be your main contact person during the hospitalization. Think hard about who you want that to be. It should be someone who is committed to assisting you in understanding what is going on in the hospital and is not afraid to ask the important questions as well as challenge the situation and completely understand what your wishes are.
Legal Matters
Being prepared legally is an important step. Liaise with your attorney and have a Power of Attorney and a Healthcare Proxy document set up. This will protect you in circumstances when you are unable to make decisions for yourself. Also, have an Advance Health Care Directive compiled so it is clear to your person who is making decisions for you when you can’t what your wishes are.
Be Prepared
It is wise to ensure which hospitals in your area are in your health insurance network ahead of time. You can also check the hospital(s) ratings. Some hospitals are safer than others. You can check the LeapFrog Hospital Safety Grade website https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org/. Other sites you can check are https://www.healthgrades.com/find-a-hospital and https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.html?. If you are having surgery, you can also check your surgeon’s ratings as well at Propublica’s Surgeon Scorecard site: https://projects.propublica.org/surgeons/.
Communication Plan
This pandemic has made it very clear the need to have a communication plan while in the hospital. You may have many family members or friends that want to be involved in your status and recovery. It is essential to have one person who is dedicated to liaising with the nursing staff, social workers and medical team to stay on top of the plan of care and test results. It is wise to set up a patient portal for the hospital so certain data can be monitored. This person needs to introduce themselves to the medical team as the person to be directly involved in every detail of the hospitalization. Ask each member of the medical and hospital team for a business card/contact information and the best times to get updates.
Monitoring Progress
Always be aware of what the daily treatment plan is for the day. Frequently, the plan of care and/or goals are written on a whiteboard in the patient’s room. Understand what all of the medications you are on are indicated for and possible side effects to look out for. If a new medication is started while in the hospital, make sure you know who prescribed it and why. Ask what the potential benefits and side effects are.
If you have any imaging tests, ask what they are doing the test for. Ask for the results as soon as they are available and if the results require any additional treatment. Understand the lab results they are collecting and what they mean.
This may all be too much for you as the patient since you may want to concentrate on healing. Ensure the loved one, friend, or private patient advocate will have a notebook and keep detailed notes on your progress and actions taken while in the hospital.
Hospital Tool Kit
It can be helpful to have a bag containing vital information ready to go with you should you have an emergent hospitalization. This could include the following:
Fact Sheet – contains your name, address, phone number, date of birth and any allergies
Emergency Contact Person – name, phone number, email and text information
Physician list - have your primary care physician and specialists names and contact information listed
Medication list – list all the prescribed drugs, over the counter drugs and supplements you take with the dosages and frequency
Medical Conditions – list any chronic or acute diseases
Past Surgeries and Hospitalizations – a list of any surgeries or hospitalizations you have had listed in date order
Insurance info – a copy of the front and back of your insurance card
HIPAA or Healthcare Proxy document
Advance directive
POLST or MOLST form, if available
Power of Attorney
Patient Portal information
Overnight bag with your cell phone and charger, 24 hours of medications, hearing aid, glasses, notebook and pen, toiletries.
Other – a note about anything special the hospital staff or emergency responders should know about you if you are not able to communicate yourself.
There were many people during this pandemic that were admitted to the hospital in an emergency and there was unavoidable stress due to no visitation for family members. Being prepared with a plan, a contact person and the above information can increase the ability to communicate and lessen the stress.