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Planning Your Visit

Planning Your Visit

Thank you for choosing us for your health care needs. At Emory Healthcare, we are committed to providing you with the best possible care. We understand this means more than offering the latest in medical and technological advances.

While you are with us, your comfort, safety and care are our top priorities.

Also, you are an essential part of the care team. The questions you and your family have are important and should be shared with members of your health care providers. We encourage you to discuss your treatment plan with your doctor and nurses, and make sure you and your family understand and agree with it. We hope you will ask questions about treatment options and risks, medications, the identity of any hospital staff member, or anything else you are concerned about.

The Pre-Appointment Checklist

  • Arrive 15-30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time
  • If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please notify your physician's office as soon as possible. You can find more details on our cancellation and no-show policy HERE

Insurance Information

  • Bring your insurance card or necessary insurance information
  • If your insurance carrier requires a referral, bring referral numbers and forms

Confirmation or Visit Number

  • If you received this number when you scheduled your appointment, please bring it with you

Patient Information Form

  • If you received this form before your appointment, please complete it and bring it with you

Medical Records

  • Have your medical records from previous physicians transferred to the office prior to your appointment

X-Rays and/or Scans

  • If appropriate to your visit, bring any available X-rays or scans or have them transferred to the office prior to your appointment

List of Medications

  • Bring a list of all medications you are currently taking or have recently taken, over-the-counter or prescription
  • Include the strength and dosage of each medication

List of Health Questions or Concerns

  • Sometimes we forget all the things we wanted to tell or ask the doctor, so make a list of your symptoms, questions or concerns before you come to your appointment

Because our patients' health, wellness, and safety are of the utmost importance to us, smoking is not permitted in any Emory Healthcare facility. 

Additional Considerations for a Hospital Admission

When you come to Emory for a hospital visit, no matter how routine, you’re going to have a lot on your mind. Taking a little time to prepare for your visit in advance can go a long way to making your stay go smoother.

Pre-register For Your Visit

Pre-registering for your hospital visit saves you time. You can generally pre-register up to 30 days before your admission date. To pre-register, or get more information, please call 1-800-75-EMORY.

Items to Bring With You

When you come to the hospital, please bring:

  • Personal items, such as sleepwear and toiletries
  • A list of medications you are taking
  • Insurance information
  • Photo ID
  • Copies of your advance directives, if you have them

Items to Leave at Home

Please leave the following items at home:

  • Valuables such as jewelry or large amounts of cash. We regret that we cannot be responsible for these items. You may need your checkbook or credit card at the time of admission, but please send them home afterward with a family member or friend.
  • TVs, radios, hair dryers and other electrical devices.

Pre-approval For Your Insurance

Most insurance plans require pre-approval for hospitalization. You are responsible for working with your doctor to make sure you are pre-approved. However, once you arrive at the hospital, we will talk to your insurance company to make sure that continued stay requirements are being met. Please note pre-approval does not guarantee payment.

Parking at the Hospital

You’ll find that all of Emory’s hospitals have plenty of parking available onsite. For detailed information on parking, please refer to the patient and visitor guide of the specific hospital you’ll be staying at.

During your stay:

We want your stay to be as pleasant and comfortable as possible. All of our hospitals offer a full range of services to support the needs of our patients and their families.

Meals

Our goal is to provide you with excellent service and appetizing meals. Upon admission, you will be provided with a room service menu from which you may make meal and snack selections that are appropriate for your prescribed diet. We will do our best to honor any cultural, religious or ethnic food preferences. Please inform your dining services associate of any allergies you may have. Family members are welcome to assist by calling in meal orders on behalf of the patient if necessary.

If you are unable to order your meal via phone, someone will visit you to obtain your selections. If however, for any reason, we are not able to obtain your personal selections, a meal will be provided for you based on any preferences you have previously provided to us.

Patient guests may also order meals through the room service program for a charge. Ask your host/hostess for details regarding this service. Please note that if you want to bring food from home, please speak with the nurse or dietitian on staff.

Telephone

Telephones are available at each patient’s bedside. Local calls are free.

Television

Complimentary television service is provided in each room. Please ask your nurse about our many patient education programs.

Patient Relations

Your comfort and safety are our top priority. If you have any questions or concerns about your care or have a complaint that has not been handled to your satisfaction, please contact one of our patient representatives.

Mail and Flower Delivery

Florists will deliver flowers to your room. We are happy to deliver your mail each day. For detailed information on mail delivery, please refer to the patient and visitor guide of the specific hospital you’ll be staying at.

Social Services

Our social workers help patients and their families cope with the stresses of illness and hospitalization. They can help you with:

  • Arranging short-term or long-term care after you are discharged from the hospital
  • Locating community resources and financial assistance
  • Arranging counseling related to your illness
  • Arranging for continuing rehabilitation equipment for discharge

Ask your nurse or doctor to put you in touch with a member of our social services team.

What to Expect After You’re Discharged

Your health care team will carefully plan a safe discharge for you. We’ll work with you and your family to make sure you understand the medications and health care services that you will require after leaving the hospital.

If needed, our social workers can help make arrangements for in-home care, equipment or supplies. Our hospitals have different discharge times; please check the patient guide for the hospital you’ll be visiting for more information.

Discharge Planning and Post-Hospital Care

As you prepare for your discharge from the hospital, a social worker or case manager, along with your healthcare team will meet with you to discuss your clinical care needs when you leave the hospital and what your discharge options may be. Below you will find links to Frequently Asked Questions for various levels of care and services that may be options for you when you are discharged from the hospital.

When you have questions regarding your discharge plan, ask to speak with a social worker or case manager who will assist in coordinating your discharge plan while you are in the hospital.

n appointment, you may receive a survey asking how you feel about your visit here and how we can improve our services. It is important to us to know what you think. But you do not have to wait for a survey to keep in touch. We would like to hear from you any time.

Our Emory Healthcare patients relations can help you share your experience, manage your billing questions or address.

Learn more about Emory’s hospitals

Please refer to the patient and visitor guide for the hospital you’ll be visiting to learn more about planning for your visit.

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