Help Your Caregiver by Being Prepared

Know Your Medical and Medication History

What helps your caregivers deliver the best care? Knowing your updated medical history and medications. It may seem bothersome to update this information at every visit, but communicating this information every time is one of the simplest ways to help avoid serious errors.

Do you have an advocate?

Being in a hospital can be an anxious experience – and if you’re not feeling well, understandably it can be hard to be your own best advocate. At Northern Light Inland Hospital, we focus on what’s best for you as an individual, so you may already think of our doctors, nurses, and other staff as your biggest supporters. But having a loved one or a friend by your side as an advocate watching out for you - maybe taking notes, or helping you remember to ask certain questions – can give you added comfort and confidence during your hospital stay. As another set of eyes and ears, an advocate is an important link in our partnership for safe healthcare.

Understanding discharge instructions

Understanding the instructions you receive from your caregiver when leaving the hospital is a key factor in how fast you will heal or improve. This is another time when you and your advocate should ask questions to make sure you fully understand what medicines you should take and why, what follow-up care is necessary, and who to contact if you have further questions.

If you have questions about your discharge instructions from Northern Light Inland Hospital, please call the Case Management Department at 861-3000.