Have You Been In The Hospital?

Have you been in the hospital?

If so, you may be surprised that your regular doctor may not know about your hospitalization. AARP-RI is working with Quality Partners of Rhode Island to improve care for people who have been hospitalized. One of the Safe Transition Project’s goals is to make sure that your regular doctor has up-to-date information about the care you receive in the hospital.

Here’s how you can help:

Tell your regular doctor right away when you’re hospitalized. If you are admitted to the Emergency Room or hospital, call your regular doctor or ask a family member to call for you. This ensures that your doctor knows you’ve been in the hospital. Include the name of the doctor in charge of your care at the hospital, so that your regular doctor knows who to contact.

Ask questions when you’re getting ready to leave the hospital. The hospital’s doctors and nurses will give you information about what to do when you get home. Make sure you understand what to expect and who to call with questions. If there is something that you find confusing, ask questions! You can best take care of yourself when you understand what to do.

Schedule an appointment with your regular doctor before leaving the hospital. When you call your doctor’s office, make sure to tell the person who schedules appointments that you’ve been in the hospital. Ask if you can be seen by your doctor in the next two weeks. If you can’t get an appointment with your doctor, ask your hospital doctor if they can call for you. Seeing your doctor within a couple weeks helps catch any problems before they worsen and cause another visit to the Emergency Room or hospital.

Bring your hospital papers and your medications to your appointment with your regular doctor. Help your doctor understand what happened during your hospital visit by bringing all of the information that the hospital gave you. Also bring all of your medications: both old and new medications, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and any herbal medications. Your doctor will help you make sure you’re taking the right medications and that they are safe to take together.

These simple steps can help you stay out of the hospital and in good health.