Comprehensive care to help you get the best outcome from your surgery

After surgery, your recovery continues after you have returned home. That's why the physicians, nurses, medical professionals and staff at Hurley Medical Center make sure that you are prepared for this transition.

Discharge Information

Before you go home, make sure you have the following:

1. Discharge summary. This is an overview of the reasons you were in the hospital, which health care professionals saw you, what procedures were done, and what medications were prescribed.

2. Medications list. This is a listing of what medications you are taking, why, in what dosage, and who prescribed them.

3. Prescriptions for any medications you need. Be sure to fill your prescriptions at Hurley Medical Center's pharmacy or at your local pharmacy, so you don’t run out of needed medications. Contact your physician 5-7 days ahead for pain medications.

4. Follow-up care instructions. Make sure you have paperwork that tells you:

• what dietary restrictions you need to follow and for how long
• what kinds of activities you can and cannot do, and for how long
• how to properly care for any injury or stitches you may have
• what follow-up tests you may need and when you need to schedule them
• what medicines you must take, why, and for how long
• when you need to see your physician
• any other home-care instructions for your caregiver and what signs and symptoms to watch out for
• telephone numbers to call if you or your caregiver has any questions pertaining to your after-hospital care

5. Other services. When you leave the hospital, you may need to spend time in a rehabilitation facility, nursing home, or other institution. Or you may need to schedule tests at an imaging center, have treatments at a cancer center, or have in-home therapy. Be sure to speak with your nurse or physician to get all the details you need before you leave.

• care from home health aides
• companionship
• home-delivered meals
• homemaker or attendant care
• laboratory and x-ray imaging
• medical equipment and supplies
• medical social services
• nursing care
• nutritional support
• pharmaceutical services
• physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy
• physician care
• transportation
• volunteer care

6. Community resources. You and your caregiver may feel unprepared for what will happen after your discharge. Make sure your case manager provides you with information about local resources, such as agencies that can provide transportation, equipment, home care and respite care, and agencies that can help with patient care and respite care.

Home Health Care

For many patients, part-time health care provided in their home by medical professionals can help them minimize the length of hospital stays, recover more quickly from surgery and restore health. Home health care includes a wide range of skilled and non-skilled services, including the following:

Home health care providers include home health agencies, homemaker and home care aide agencies, pharmaceutical and infusion therapy companies, durable medical equipment and supply dealers, staffing registries and private duty agencies, and other independent providers

Medicare defines home health care as intermittent, physician-ordered medical services or treatment. Home care is not for everyone, and you and/or your caregiver have the right to choose your home care agency. However, under some circumstances your insurance company may dictate the company.

Durable Medical Equipment (DME)

Durable medical equipment includes a range of products that may be ordered by a doctor for use in a patient’s home. Examples are walkers, oxygen, crutches, wheelchairs and hospital beds. DME is covered under Medicare Part A and Part B for home health services.