For patients at HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital

During the admission process, it is necessary to obtain vital information regarding you, the patient. Your cooperation in supplying this information is appreciated. Patients should bring with them a picture ID, all insurance identification cards, policy numbers or referrals. Much of the data requested during this process is of a very personal nature; however, it is required by state and federal law and will be held in strict confidence.

What to bring for your hospital stay

Only personal items such as cosmetics, nightgown or pajamas, robes and slippers should be brought to the hospital upon admission. No valuables, please.

Identification band

At the time of your admission, the identification band will be attached to your wrist by nursing personnel. It is imperative that this band not be removed during your stay. This band contains a barcode that identifies you for all those who care for you and is a safeguard used to assist with safe medication administration.

Home medication

It is very important for our healthcare team to know which medications you are currently taking at home. You may bring your medications in with you so that accurate names and dosages can be obtained or you may bring a list of names, dosages and time last taken with you. Medications, however, should not be left at the hospital. A family member should take the medications home or our pharmacy can keep the medications for you until you are discharged.

Please do not take any medication other than what your nurse gives you unless instructed otherwise. If you feel you need a medication that you are not being given, let the nurse know. She will contact your personal physician for an order. Prescriptions given to you by your physician at time of discharge cannot be filled by our pharmacy.

Consent forms

Consent forms are required for treatment or surgical operations and must be signed by the patient (or legal guardian) prior to commencement of any procedure. If you do not understand any of the forms used, please question the personnel presenting the form to you for signature. The option is yours, but if you refuse a particular treatment you will be asked to sign additional papers to state your desires.

We understand that being in the hospital may be an unsettling experience, and we want to help you as much as we can. Health education is important in helping you make decisions about your healthcare and health lifestyle. While you are a patient, you and your family will be provided with information about your care to be used both during your stay and after you are discharged. We want you to be as informed as possible. To help you do your part, we strongly recommend the following:

• Please provide complete and accurate information about your health history.
• If something is not perfectly clear, please do not hesitate to ask for an explanation.
• Please follow the treatment plan prescribed by our physician(s), knowing the consequences of not doing so may have a negative impact on your health. Our staff wants you to understand your treatment plan and to be able to maintain your health after you are discharged. We have qualified professionals who will teach you about such issues as nutrition, food and drug interactions, exercise and rehabilitation, pain management, medication management and other topics regarding your health and options.
• Please write down questions and concerns as you think of them. This will enable you to remember and discuss them with your caregivers.

We believe education is one of the best ways to safeguard your health. That's why we are pleased to offer a variety of educational seminars at our hospital. Each class is taught by a highly experienced professional who covers the topic thoroughly and answers any questions you may have.