Preparing for your stay at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Patients are asked to define their family and explain how they will be involved in patient care, care planning and decision making. Patients should plan to keep their family informed about their care — they are advised to identify one person who can communicate with staff and other family members. Patients should share their plan with hospital staff.
Patients are asked to identify their support person(s) whose presence will provide emotional support, comfort, and help alleviate fears. With patient permission, this person may stay throughout the inpatient stay, participate in planning for care and discharge, and provide support by learning new information.
Clinical rounds, patient education sessions and discharge planning will accommodate having the support person present. The support person may be present throughout the stay unless their presence impacts patients’ rights, safety, or is not medically or therapeutically possible.
If the support person plans to stay in the hospital overnight, the nursing staff will coordinate while considering the needs of other patients and families in the area. In situations where there are shared rooms, coordination may include the other patient, his or her family and their support person.
Patient medication history is very important. Doctors and nurses will ask repeatedly about medications taken at home. Medications taken while in the hospital are prescribed specifically for the hospital stay. Some may be new or different compared to a patient’s medication history.
A hospital pharmacist reviews all medications and dispenses them. The nurse explains them and gives them to patients. Always ask about the medications you are given before taking them.
Patients should never take medication from home without discussing this with the doctor or nurse first. If the doctor wants a patient to take their medication from home, a pharmacist will make sure it does not interfere with the other medications they are taking.
Penn Medicine’s professional registered nurses (RNs) plan and coordinate your care with you, your physicians and other members of the health care team. They provide treatments, administer medications and intravenous fluids, and teach you about your health and taking care of yourself after your discharge from the hospital. The nurses are assisted by certified nursing assistants and technicians who help you with your personal hygiene and meals.
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is recognized as a Magnet hospital. Magnet is a prestigious designation bestowed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for excellence in nursing care.
As a patient of this hospital, you are responsible for expressing your expectations regarding pain and pain management and discussing pain relief options with your doctors and nurses. Ask for pain relief when your pain first begins and tell your doctor or nurse if your pain is not relieved.
Please inform your nurse if any aspect of your room is uncomfortable. Maintenance will be notified and make every effort to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Bring only necessary items for your hospital stay. Patients may be moved to different care areas during their hospital stay. Labeling all personal items helps to keep track of them. At times, the nursing staff may need to do an inventory of patient belongings. Please do not bring valuables such as jewelry and electronics.
- Photo identification
- Health insurance information
- Copy of any advance directive, durable power of attorney and living will documents
- List of medications with doses and frequency
- List of doctors and relatives with phone numbers and email addresses
- Robe, slippers and toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
- Eyeglasses, hearing aids and dentures (and cases labeled with full name)
- Cane and walker (labeled with full name)
- Medical equipment, if necessary
The hospital maintains a safe and secure environment, but we strongly recommend that you send your valuables home with a family member or friend. Please notify your nurse if you need to secure personal items with the security department. The hospital is not responsible for personal belongings or valuables that are not secured with the security department.