A team of health care professionals will care for you during your stay and help you prepare for your discharge.
For your stay, bring the following items. If you forget to bring anything with you or if you arrive in our inpatient unit after visiting the emergency department or transferring from another hospital, a friend or family member can bring the items after you have been admitted.
Documents and Information
- Valid health card (OHIP card).
- Information about private health insurance or other health benefits. If you have private health insurance or receive other health benefits, this may help to cover the cost of
preferred accommodation if you request to stay in a semi-private or private room.
- A copy of any advance directive (power of attorney or living will) you may have.
- Contact details for other health care providers who have been involved in your care to help us ensure continuity in your care.
- The names, addresses and telephone numbers of your caregivers, family members, friends or other emergency contacts and your family doctor.
Medications
- All your medications in their original bottles.
- Or a complete list of medications you are currently taking, including prescription medications, non-prescription medications, vitamin or mineral supplements and herbal remedies.
Clothing and Personal Items
- Loose, comfortable clothes to wear during the day that are easy to put on.
- Clothes to sleep in, such as a nightgown or pajamas and a robe.
- Socks and comfortable shoes with non-skid rubber soles, such as running shoes. If you have limited movement in your arms or hands, we recommend bringing shoes with Velcro straps.
- Slippers (rubber soles and closed backs are preferred).
- Toiletries, such as a toothbrush, tissues or lip and skin moisturizer. Please do not bring any
scented products.
- Hearing aids and batteries, dentures and eyeglasses.
- Walker, wheelchair or other mobility aids, labelled with your name and phone number.
You May Want to Bring
- A cell phone and charger.
- Small personal items, such as framed photographs.
- A laptop or tablet with headphones so you do not disturb other patients (there are no TVs in the rooms).
- Earplugs.
- A small amount of cash for newspapers, coffee or other small purchases.
- Anything that will make your stay more comfortable, such as books or other diversions. Free Guest Wi-Fi is available.
Do Not Bring
- Live plants and flowers are not allowed.
- Please do not bring any small appliances such as fans or kettles.
- We do not take responsibility for your money or valuables. If you choose to bring them into the hospital, you are doing so at your own risk.
A ward clerk or nurse will meet with you shortly after you arrive. They will welcome you and:
- Get your health card (OHIP card) number
- Get information about any private insurance you may have or other health benefits you may receive
- Get any other relevant information, such as emergency contact
- Help you get settled and comfortable as quickly as possible
- Orient you to the unit
- Answer any questions you may have
Note: Mixed-Gender Rooms - In order make sure people get a bed as soon as possible and avoid delays, you may be placed in a room with with a patient who has a different gender than your own (for example: female, male, trans, non-binary or Two-Spirit).
Your treatment plan will be discussed with you throughout your stay in the hospital.
Monitoring Your Health
Your healthcare team will see you every day. We will talk with you about how you are doing and answer any questions you may have. If you want to speak with a member of your healthcare team at any other time, ask the nurse looking after you.
You may have:
- PICC / central lines
- Blood tests
- X-rays
- Ultrasounds
- CT scans
- MUGAs
- ECHO
- Bone marrow aspirates
- Lumbar punctures
- Or other tests performed during your stay
If we recommend that you receive any of these tests, we will discuss them with you in advance, and we will meet with you afterward to discuss the results.
Amenities
Throughout our hospital, you can find a range of amenities to make your stay more enjoyable and comfortable.
Eating and Drinking
You will have a chance to tell us about your food preferences and allergies when you are admitted to the hospital. This information will be entered into our computer system, and your meals will take into account your preferences and allergies, as well as the diet plan specified by your doctor. Visitors should not eat or drink in patient rooms.
Medications
If you are taking any medications before you enter the hospital or if our health care professionals order new medications during your stay, we will provide your medications at the required times. Note: You may be asked to send home any medicines that the hospital will provide, this is to avoid taking the same medicine twice by mistake.
For each medication, you should know:
- The name of the medication
- Why you need it
- How much to take
- When to take it
- Any side effects it may cause
If you want to know more about your medications, you can ask your pharmacist, doctor or nurse at any time.
Pain Management
As your body goes through treatment, you may experience some pain and discomfort. Our goal is to make sure that you have as little pain as possible.
Managing your pain can help your recovery. Pain management can:
- Decrease the amount of stress on your body
- Promote healing
- Decrease complications
- Prevent the development of chronic or long-term pain
To manage your pain, we need to know what you are feeling. You can describe your pain on a number scale, where "0" means "no pain" and "10" means "the worst pain you can imagine." You can also describe your pain with words like:
- Mild
- Moderate
- Severe
- Sharp
- Achy
- Throbbing
These words can help us understand and treat your pain.
Hand Washing
It is important to wash your hands well and often while you are in the hospital. Washing your hands will reduce the chances that you will become sick or get an infection.
It's okay to ask your doctor, nurse and other health care providers to wash or sanitize their hands using hand sanitizer before examining you.
The length of your stay will be based on your health care team's assessment of your condition. Soon after you arrive on the unit, we will discuss with you and your caregivers how long you will be staying.
We will work with you and your caregivers to start planning early for when you leave (are discharged), to help you make a safe and successful transition.
Throughout your stay you will receive information that will prepare you to manage your diagnosis once you leave the hospital. We will give you a follow up appointment and a prescription for any medications you need.
If you have any questions about your discharge or your care needs before you leave the hospital, don't be afraid to ask a member of your team. We are here to help you.
