Unplanned Hospital Visits
June 3, 2009
Trips to the emergency room and hospital stays are usually not planned, and for that reason being prepared could help it be a lot less stressful. The easiest preparation could be done in less than an hour because it only involves having the following 2 most important items ready in an emergency pack.
Personal Information & Paperwork.
1. Personal Information Sheet - (include the following information)
Preferred name and languages spoken,Contact information for doctors, Key family members, helpful friends (also program into cell phone, if applicable) Illness or medical conditions, All current medicines and dosage instructions, Any medicines that have ever caused a bad reaction, Any allergies to medicines or foods; special diets Need for glasses, dentures or hearing aid Degree of impairment and amount of assistance needed for activities Family information, living situation, Work, leisure and spiritual history, Religious preference, minister Daily schedule and patterns, self-care preferences, Behaviors of concern; How your relative communicates needs and expresses emotions2. Paperwork - (include copies of important documents)
Insurance cards (include policy numbers and pre-authorization phone numbers) Medicaid and/or Medicare cards Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney, Living Will and/or an original DNR (do not resuscitate) order
Take time to be prepared. For those you love or for
those you care for it might mean the difference between
life and death.
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