What to expect when you arrive
Your family physician, or the doctor in Emergency, will arrange your admission through the Admitting Department.
Pre-Admission
Whenever possible, the hospital “pre-admits” patients for non-urgent operations and procedures. This allows the hospital to gather the personal information needed to register you and start a patient record before you arrive. Often that is done through a form we mail to you, but we may call you as well. We will also call you the night before your operation or procedure to confirm the time you should arrive at the hospital, review your pre – operative instructions and answer any last-minute questions you may have.
Once registered, you will receive an armband with your name and personal health information on it. The armband will be checked throughout your visit so please do not remove it until you are discharged.
If you have any questions, please call 905-768-3311.
What to bring to the hospital
Documentation
- Your Ontario health card. If you do not have a health card, please bring government-issued photo identification. Such as a driver’s license, passport, or permanent resident card.
- Other insurance information if you do not have an Ontario Health card. Like, Out-of-Province Health insurance or Interim Federal Health Program.
- Information about private health insurance or other health benefits.
- Cheque, credit card, or debit card to cover use of hospital services, such as telephone/TV fees
- The names, addresses and telephone numbers of your family members, friends or other emergency contacts.
- The name, address and telephone number of your family physician.
- A copy of any advance care directive you may have.
Valid Identification
It is important to bring in a valid government-issued photo identification upon arrival to your appointment. It ensures the Admitting Department staff enters your personal health information accurately into our registration system and selects your electronic health records, correctly. Accurate patient identification is important to West Haldimand General Hospital and our health care team.
Medications
- All current medications in their original bottles.
- A complete list of medications you are currently taking. Including, prescription medications and non-prescription medications, as well as vitamin or mineral supplements and herbal remedies, eye drops, ear drops, inhalers, puffers and patches.
Clothing and personal items
The hospital provides all your necessities with the exception of toiletries, dressing gowns and slippers. You may bring your own pyjamas or nightgowns and own personal toiletries such as unscented soap and shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, denture cream and face creams.
Comfortable clothes to wear home, such as a track suit.
Electrical devices (fans, radios, razors…) will be checked by maintenance for safety.
Valuables, such as jewellery or large sums of money, should be left at home. You will need a small amount of money to buy newspapers, etc. Valuables and medications that you bring will be kept in safekeeping until you are discharged.
Assistive devices, such as canes, walkers, crutches, hearing aid devices, or magnifying glasses, labelled clearly with your name.
