Orthopaedic Surgery – Knysna Private Hospital, Garden Route, South Africa

Before admission

Before you are admitted for treatment please would you complete the enclosed pre-admission questionnaire and registration forms and returns them to us via email or fax or preferably visits our clinic where a trained professional will be able to assist you. It is very important that this is done to enable the hospital to assess your individual needs and determine whether a full pre-admission assessment is requires. In the event that your questionnaire is not returned in time, your admission may be delayed, and your authorization from your medical scheme may be processed in time.

It is very important that you carefully study this admission letter.

You may be required to refrain from eating and drinking (water included) or even certain chronic medication for a period of time prior to your operation. For more detailed instructions, please liaise with your doctor or surgeon, who will provide you with specific instructions regarding your treatment.

Please also obtain any instructions regarding x-ray examinations, blood test or other test required before admission. Remember that the hospital will need about any medication, supplements including homeopathic and herbal medicines you are currently using. This information should be provided on your pre-admission questionnaire.

You should bring all your current medication with you with the original packaging and labels, when you are admitted. Please ensure you bring sufficient medication to last throughout your anticipated length of stay. The forms also provide space to indicate whether you have any specific dietary or religious catering requirements. Please confirm these with the nurse on duty. Parents or guardians are advised to accompany children under the age of 16.

The forms also provide space to indicate whether you have any specific dietary or religious catering requirements. Please confirm these with the nurse on duty. Parents or guardians are advised to accompany children under the age of 16.

Pre – admission service

All Life Healthcare patients are subject to a pre- admission check either by telephone or by attending a pre-admission clinic before admission to hospital.

As part of our infection control measures, patients who have been in another hospital within the past six months may undergo specific test. For some admission, you may be requested to undertake a blood test, x-ray or other test.

What to bring with you

Clothing

If you are attending as a day case an in-patient, there are a number of items we recommend you bring with you:

Sleepwear

Slippers

Personal toiletries

Chronic medication

Proof of identity

Your medical aid card

If you staying for a few days or longer, you may prefer to bring casual clothing to wear towards the end of your recuperation. Patients undergoing hip or knee surgery are asked to bring shorts, a loose skirt or tracksuit (preferred to trousers)
Together with comfortable supportive shoes to wear during post-operative physiotherapy. You may also wish to bring books and children may gain some comfort from their favourite toy.

Valuables

We advise that you do not bring valuables or large sums of money with you. Please ask your relatives to take them home for safe-keeping. However, if this is unavoidable, please ask the nurse who will be able to arrange for the items to be kept safely. Please note the hospital cannot accept responsibility for items not secured in the hospital safe.

Mobile phones and electrical equipment In order to respect the needs of all our patients, use of mobile phones is not endorsed in the hospital, as ringtones and loud conversations can be intrusive. Cell phones are strictly forbidden in both the intensive care and the hi-care wards. If you wish to bring personal electrical equipment with you please inform the nurse on admission, who will ensure that it receives the necessary safety check prior to your usage in the hospital there may be a delay in this check. The hospital cannot take responsibility for any personal items kept in the wards during your hospital stay.

Mobile phones and electrical equipment

In order to respect the needs of all our patients, use of mobile phones is not endorsed in the hospital, as ringtones and loud conversations can be intrusive. Cell phones are strictly forbidden in both the intensive care and the hi-care wards.

If you wish to bring personal electrical equipment with you please inform the nurse on admission, who will ensure that it receives the necessary safety check prior to your usage in the hospital there may be a delay in this check. The hospital cannot take responsibility for any personal items kept in the wards during your hospital stay.

When you arrive

Transport and parking

If you are an in-patient, we recommend that you do not leave your car in the hospital car park for the duration of your stay. Please arrange to be dropped off at the hospital and collected again on departures as you may find that you will be advised by your doctor not to drive for a period of time following your visit.

Disables access

The hospital entrances and exits have been designed to enable easy access for wheelchairs. If you require the use of a wheelchair during your stay, either for yourself or visitor, please let the receptionist know either beforehand or on arrival.

Admission

Any personal items kept in the wards during your hospital stay.

When you arrive

Transport and parking

Disables access

Admission

Reception
On the day of your admission, it is very important that you arrive prepared for your operation and in time to meet your doctor and anaesthetic before the operating list commences. Your time of arrival will have been confirmed in your admission letter or by telephone call to the hospital. Please ensure that you have followed all guidelines regarding fasting for your procedure.
On arrival, please report to reception, where your admission details will be confirmed. The time of your operation will be advised by the nursing staff, although this may be subject to change.

Your Room

Private rooms may be requested at an additional charge and will be provided on a first come basis. Having been shown to your room you will be advised how the equipment in your room factions, including the nurse call system. Every room features a nurse call system located at the bedside, and there is also a nurse call in the bathroom

Please note you may be sharing a room with other life healthcare patients

On arrival at the ward one of our nurses will perform a clinical assessment

You may be asked to confirm your personal details by all clinicians attending to you, prior to your operation. This is recommended practice for increased patient safety.

You will be required to wear an identification bracelet. And if you have ant allergies, you will be required to wear additional coloured band.

If you are to have surgery, your surgeon and the anaesthetist will confirm your medical history and answer all of your remaining pre-operative questions. A nurse will inform you of when you should change into your operating gown.

All bed linen is provided. A colour television and radio may also be provided.

During your stay

Meals
Subject to your doctor’s approval, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served at normal times. Beverages are served mid morning, mid afternoon, and in the evening and also available at other times

All meals are freshly prepared using healthy ingredients to aid your recovery. Special and light diets will be prepared for patients following procedures under general anaesthetic. Vegetarians, and those patients with any special medical conditions (e.g. diabetes), cultural or religious requirements, can be catered for.

A parent who accompanies a small child may make arrangements with the nursing staff to have meals delivered to them by the caterers at an additional cost.

Newspapers

Daily newspapers and magazines are available at most of our gift shops.

Smoking Policy

All our hospitals have a non-smoking policy. Our nursing staff can help smokers with any concerns they may have before coming into hospital. Some hospitals may have designated areas for smoking outside, but please check with hospital staff to see if your hospital has assigned area for smoking.

Firearm Policy

Life Healthcare has a very strict policy regarding firearms. No firearms are allowed on our premises, and therefore all patients who have firearms MUST make alternative arrangements to lodge their firearms for save keeping with a third party prior to entering a Life healthcare facility.

Visitors

Friends and relatives are welcome to visit during specified visiting hours .Please note that specialized units such as intensive care (ICU), high-care and maternity have restrictions on visiting hours, including who may visit, and the number of visitors. Please consult with the reception staff who will be able to confirm the times,

For security reasons your visitors should report to reception on arrival and then inform ward reception of their presence

Information for relatives

We will at all times adhere to our policy for patient confidentiality. Your friends and relatives may call for information about your progress. They should ask to speak to the unit manager responsible for your ward.

Personal charges

You will be required to settle your account for personal charges on discharge
Any private portions not covered by medical schemes will also be required as a pre-payment prior to admission, this will include
    . co–payment (as determined by scheme) .
    . deductibles
    . use of private wards

A final account will be submitted to the medical aid and a copy forwarded to you on discharge. Please note the responsibility of payment resides with the patient or the guarantor.

Your operation

Please ensure that you make all the necessary preparations for your operation, including removing nail varnish, nail extensions and cosmetics. If you have any queries regarding nail extensions and cosmetics, please consult your doctor

Plain wedding bands may be worn but will be covered with tape prior to surgery. It is requested that any other jewellery including body piercings and metal rings are removed and kept safely at home or given to relative foe safekeeping.

To the theatre

You will be accompanied to the theatre by a nurse / health care assistant (HCA), porter or a member of the theatre staff. If you are having a general anaesthetic you will wake up in the recovery area and will be looked after by a recovery nurse before returning to your room.

Back in your room

In the comfort of your room you will be able to relax. If you have had a general anaesthetic you may feel drowsy at first. When you are fully awake and depending on the type of surgery, you may be able to have a drink and perhaps something to eat. The nurse will continue to monitor your pulse and blood pressure regularly as appropriate. We advise that you do not get out of bed unaided, immediately following your surgery, until informed that you may do so by your nurse.

When you leave

You will be advised by your doctor or your nurse when you are able to go home. If you need to take any medication following your departure, this will be given to you when you leave
If you are required to go home with crutches, walking sticks or a raised toilet seat, you will be given these items via the physiotherapy department.

If you are undergoing general anaesthetic, please ensure that a friend or relative collects and accompanies you home. Please be aware that you should not drive a car, ride bicycle, operate machinery, or drink alcohol for at least 24hours after a general anaesthetic.

PLEASE REPORT TO RECEPTION AS YOU LEAVE

Please hand in your discharge card at main reception. This will help us to insure that the correct discharge date and time is captured on our hospital system. The discharge card is issued on admission and completed by the nursing staff member responsible for the process around your discharge.

Follow up care

Following your discharge, if you have any concerns or questions or are in need of advice, please telephone the hospital and speak to the senior nurse on duty.