The power of arriving prepared

The patients who do best in the hospital aren't the loudest. They're the ones who show up prepared and make it easy for the team to do their job. That preparation starts with a single folder and a small bag.

What to bring

Keep two sets of essentials packed in advance - either in a binder and a small bag, or digitally on your phone with a printed backup. The first set is everything the medical team needs to do their work. The second is everything you need to stay yourself.

Medical documentation

  • Complete medication and supplement list.
  • Allergy information, with the reactions noted.
  • Vaccination records.
  • Medical history including diagnoses and surgeries.
  • Advance directives (Living Will, Health Care Proxy, DNR if applicable).
  • ID and insurance cards, plus copies.
  • Contact information for your PCP and specialists.
  • Preferred pharmacy details.

Make multiple copies of these documents. One for you, one for the family member who'll be primary contact, one for the hospital staff. They get lost; redundancy helps.

Personal comfort items

  • Contact list for loved ones, with a designated primary contact.
  • Phone, charger, earphones.
  • Reading materials.
  • Eyeglasses and case.
  • Hearing aids with extra batteries or charger.
  • Dentures and adhesive.
  • Notebook and pens.
  • Sanitizing supplies - wipes and gel.
  • Resealable bag to organize small items.
  • Comfortable shoes with good grip.
  • A printed photo of yourself with loved ones.
The patients who do best in the hospital aren't the loudest. They're the ones who show up prepared and make it easy for the team to do their job.

During the stay

Communicate carefully. Stay calm, be concise, lead with the most important symptom, and ask questions until you understand the answers. Repeating yourself across shifts and specialties is part of the job; don't get short.

Protect against infection. Brush teeth three times a day. Wash your hands and ask visitors to do the same. Wipe down high-touch surfaces - bed rails, the call bell, the TV remote, your phone - daily. Don't hesitate to remind staff to sanitize their hands before contact.

Keep a record. If at all possible, have a designated support person who can sit in on rounds and take notes. Document medications given, who said what, and when. Double-check every pill before you take it - medication errors are far more common than people think, and a polite "what is this for?" stops most of them.