Preparing for Your Visit

Planning ahead can help reduce the stress of a hospital visit. Whether receiving inpatient (staying overnight) or outpatient (going home the same day) care, testing, treatment or surgery, you and your caregivers play an important role in preparing for your visit.

In addition to specific instructions for what you'll need to do in the days before, the day of and the days after your visit or procedure, if you're staying overnight and during recovery, here are a couple of things to keep to do before your scheduled visit:

• Know where you need to be and have directions and parking information on hand.
• Check with your insurance company to determine how long your stay will be and what your benefits are.
• Understand our billing and insurance policies and make any necessary financial arrangements ahead of time.
• Discuss your beliefs about medical care with family care partners and physicians prior to your visit and ensure copies of advance directives, such as living will and health care proxy documents, are filed with the appropriate authorities.
• Understand your rights and responsibilities as a patient of Smilow Cancer Hospital.
• If you need to arrange any special services, like a translator or hearing-impaired assistance, contact Patient Relations before your visit.