What to Expect During Your Hospital Stay

Thinking about staying in the hospital can make people feel nervous about the unknown. Whether it’s your first time visiting a hospital or you have stayed for weeks at a time, planning for a hospital stay can be a daunting task.

If you’re a patient at one of our Henry Ford Hospitals, you’ll likely have a few questions about the convenient services available, your care team and facts about our hospitals.

We believe that each patient is guest in our home, and getting you back to a healthy life is the reason we are here. If there is anything we can do to improve your stay at our hospitals, please let a member of your health care team know.

What to bring to the hospital

Items you may need for your stay

• Calling card for long-distance telephone calls
• Sleepwear, including robe and slippers
• Sturdy shoes
• Gym shorts, sweatpants or loose fitting clothing
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, shampoo and other personal items
• Clothes to wear home

Personal belongings make your hospital stay more comfortable however, we encourage patients to leave jewelry, money and other valuables at home. Henry Ford Health is not responsible for lost personal items.

The following are tips to support you in securing your personal belongings at our hospitals:

• Clothing: Due to limited space in each patient room, we suggest that appropriate clothing for discharge be brought to the hospital shortly before discharge.
• Denture Care: Patients with dentures or bridges need to share this information with their nursing team to be provided a denture cup for storage when not in use.
• Hearing Aids: Please do not leave your hearing aids on the bedside table or bed. Ask your care provider for assistance to store them.
• Medications: Patients are encouraged to bring a list of all medications they are taking to the hospital, including herbal, over-the-counter and prescription medications. Patients are also highly recommended to leave medications at home or send home with a family member.

Food and beverages

At Henry Ford, we’re committed to your overall wellness, which is why we’re pleased to offer you selections from Henry’s. Henry’s focuses on highly nutritious food that supports the healing process. In our kitchen, we create meals designed for your best health by using fresh, wholesome ingredients.

Special requests should be made in advance by contacting a member of your health care team. Patients with unique nutritional needs will be evaluated by one of our registered dietitians.

Tobacco free campuses

Henry Ford Health has tobacco-free facilities and campuses. Smoking is not permitted within any of our hospital facilities or in our parking lots.

Interpreter services

Henry Ford Health is committed to ensuring that our patients and their companions who are deaf or hard-of-hearing have equal access to all the services provided at our hospitals. This includes providing patients and their companions the appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including qualified sign language interpreters, TTYs and other assisted listening devices at no cost. Interpreter services are also available if you have any difficulty understanding English. If you need any services, please talk with your nurse.

Wireless internet

Each of our patient rooms offer wireless internet which you can access by opening your web browser to Henry Ford Health Guest Network.

Being involved in your care

As our patient, you are the most important member of the health care team. At Henry Ford Health, we all work together to make your care safe.

Here is how you can help:

• Ask questions. Questions help you to stay informed. If you’re thinking it, ask it!
• Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.
• If you don’t understand something, ask again – it’s your body and you have a right to know.
• Speak up if something doesn’t seem right.
• Review instructions with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Before leaving the hospital - what you should expect

Every patient’s hospital stay is a little different. Here are some general things that should happen just before you leave the hospital:

• Education from your doctor or nurse about your condition and how to take care of yourself after leaving the hospital
• Information about a follow-up appointment
• Medication instructions
• Information on signs and symptoms to watch for
• Who you should call if you have an emergency after leaving the hospital
• Information on diet and other restrictions necessary to manage your condition
• Services you may need after leaving the hospital (e.g., home care, physical therapy, etc.)

If you haven’t received instructions or information, please ask your care provider. We welcome your questions and want to help you!