Ready, Set, Go!
During your stay at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, your doctor and hospital
staff will work with you to plan your discharge. You and your caregiver
– a family member or friend – are key members of the planning team.
Plan to leave before noon on your day of discharge, and discuss the items
on the checklist below with your doctor, nurse, and/or social worker throughout
your hospital stay.
If you have any questions after you are discharged, please contact a Patient
Advocate at 818.782.6600 x. 3975.
Recovery and Support
- Ask about medical equipment you may need, such as a walker. Find out who
you can contact if you have questions about the equipment.
- Before leaving the hospital, make sure you have made arrangements to have
the support of at least one caregiver who can assist you and your family,
if needed.
- Ask VPH staff to show you and your family/caregiver any tasks that require
special skills, such as changing a bandage or giving a shot. Then, show
them you can do these tasks. Write down a name and phone number of a person
you can call if you need help or have questions.
- Have your physician's contact information in case of an emergency.
- Valley Presbyterian Hospital offers a bedside medication delivery program
to fill your prescriptions before leaving the hospital. Ask your charge
nurse for more details.
Final To-Do List for the Patient/Caregiver/Family Member
- Let us know who will be taking you home.
- Do you have your prescriptions? Which pharmacy will you use?
- Do you have a copy of your medication list?
- Do you have a scheduled follow-up visit with your physician within 7 days
of discharge? Bring this information and medication list to that appointment.
- Do you and/or your family members have any questions or concerns related
to your care, diagnoses, disease, or procedures?
- Do you understand your discharge instructions? Are you able to read them
back to your nurse to demonstrate your understanding of these instructions?