Admissions

Bring

• Photo ID (e.g., driver’s license)
• Insurance cards (including Medicare/Medicaid if applicable)
• Referral/authorization forms (if required)
• Advance directive / living will and MOLST (if you have them)
• A current medication list (dosages, timing, allergies)

Leave at Home

• Jewelry, watches, extra cash, and other valuables
• Keys and non-essential items
• Electrical appliances (e.g., fans, heaters, hair dryers)

Important Documents

• Your hospital ID card (if you received one on a prior visit; some facilities issue a card with each visit)
• Insurance cards for all plans (including Medicare and Medicaid, if applicable)
• Personal identification (e.g., driver’s license)
• Referral and/or authorization forms, if required by your insurance provider
• Advance directive / living will and MOLST (if you have these documents)
• Money for parking and payments such as deductibles/co-payments that may be collected at admission (send unused cash/credit cards home after admission when possible)

Other Records

• Medical records, X-rays, or previous test results (if requested by your doctor)
• A list of your medical and surgical history (with dates and procedures)
• A list of your primary care physician and specialists (for care coordination)
• Name and phone number of your health care partner (if applicable)

A List of Medications

Please do not bring your medications to the hospital.

• Bring an up-to-date list of all medications (name, dose, frequency), including over-the-counter medications and supplements.
• Include known allergies and reactions.
• You may be asked about medications multiple times by different staff members.

If you arrive with medications, send them home with a family member or ask staff to have them sent to the Security Department.

Your Personal Items

Bring only essential items. Leave valuables at home (jewelry, keys, watches, extra cash). While we will work to safeguard your belongings, hospitals are not responsible for lost or stolen items.

• Toiletries and personal hygiene items
• Comfortable, loose-fitting clothes, including sleepwear
• Vision/hearing/dental/breathing aids (glasses, contacts, dentures, C-PAP) and storage cases (confirm with your doctor if any should not be worn during your procedure)
• Personal electronics (phone/tablet/laptop) with headphones

Safety note: Radios, hair dryers, fans, heaters, and other electrical appliances are not permitted.

It may also be best to remove jewelry (including piercings and wedding rings), wigs, and hair accessories and leave them at home.

Safekeeping Valuables (If Needed)

• Some rooms have a safe—ask your nurse if one is available.
• Nursing staff may be able to itemize valuables you cannot send home and store them with Security.
• When you are leaving, staff can coordinate with Security to return stored valuables.

Pre-surgery Testing and Coordination

• Your surgeon may require a complete history and physical exam from your primary care doctor.
• Additional tests may be required (e.g., EKG, chest X-ray, blood tests).
• Some hospitals coordinate required testing through a pre-surgery screening center; in other cases, you may need to schedule testing and submit results as instructed.

Before Your Procedure

• Inform your surgeon of any medications you are currently taking.
• Contact your surgeon if there is any change in your health.
• Prefill any new prescriptions your surgeon has prescribed.
• Shower the evening before using anti-bacterial soap and follow any additional cleansing/prep instructions.
• Follow instructions about eating and drinking; you may brush your teeth but avoid swallowing water or toothpaste.
• Do not apply make-up, cologne, body lotions, or powders.

Arrival Timing Guidelines

• Clinic and outpatient visits: arrive 15–30 minutes early for registration.
• Inpatient procedures: arrive by the specific time provided by admitting staff or your physician’s office.