Having Surgery - 7 Things You Don't Want to Take to the Hospital When You Go in For Surgery

There are some things that you are required to take to the hospital when you are having surgery, such as a photo id and your usual medications. And there are some things, such as your favorite books that you must have to make your stay while recovering after surgery a little more comfortable, and that's okay. There are some things, however, that you should never take to the hospital even if you think you can't live without them. After all... you are going to the hospital, and I promise; your doctors and nurses will not let you die from email deprivation.

Here is at list of some important "don't bring items" and why you should not take them with you to the hospital.

1. Food and Drink

Chances are good that you will be on some doctor-ordered diet for a few days after surgery. And all of your food will come from the hospital cafeteria. It's not exactly savory, but you have to eat that and that alone. Don't bother with gathering up and keeping up with your favorite foods and drinks in the hospital. Besides, you won't have a refrigerator, microwave, or can opener in your recovery room anyway.

2. Clothing

When you feel sick at home it always helps to put on your comfy flannel pajamas, wrap up in your silk robe, and walk around in your fuzzy slippers. And you know that at the hospital you will be wearing a flimsy gown that is too big and flashes your rear when you walk. You may be tempted to pack your go-to lounging around garb. But, in the hospital, you risk losing or even ruining those coveted comfort clothes. Leave them at home and look forward to wearing them when you get back.

3. Nice Linens

Let's face it, hospitals do not exactly brag about their high-thread count sheets or plush pillows. And unless the sheets on your bed are 500-thread count and the pillow under your head is made of memory foam, you just don't sleep well. You think that you would get more and better rest if you just take in some of your own linens. But don't do it. Like clothing, linens are likely to get lost or ruined while you are recovering in the hospital. If you absolutely cannot fall asleep on the hospital linens, the nurse will give you a pill for that.

4. Scented Candles or Air Freshener

Aromatherapy is effective at easing you into the right mood and frame of mind to accelerate healing. The flickering flames of candles alone can create an atmosphere of peace and relaxation. And, anything would improve the sanitary yet unsettling smell of hospital rooms. However, lighting candles and fogging the room with Febreeze is not a good idea for two reasons. For one, the aroma that pleases one person may sicken another. You don't want to occupy that room that other patrons of the hospital smell from down the hall. For two, certain products that alter the air may cause complications for other recovering patients, especially ones with conditions such as asthma. You don't want to be the one responsible for contaminating their air.

5. Jewelry

Jewelry should never be taken to the hospital, and this includes your wedding set. Before surgery, you will be required to take it off, all of it. This is the time when jewelry can get lost or even stolen. If you don't believe it, read the newspaper. It's sad, but all to often jewelry gets stolen while in the hospital. Furthermore, when you are lying in a hospital bed, you do not need to nor are you expected to wear jewelry. Just save yourself the hassle of taking it off and trusting a friend to keep up with it and prevent the risk of losing it. Leave all of your jewelry at home, safe and sound.

6. Credit Cards or Cash

There is not one thing that you need to buy in the hospital. Your food, room, and maid services are included in that huge bill that they send you. Like jewelry, cash and cards are easily stolen or lost in the hospital. You don't want to leave the hospital with less cash or a stolen identity. Leave the pocketbook or wallet at home.

7. Work-Related Items

Cell phones, laptops, briefcases, and anything else related to work should be left at, well, work. At the hospital, focus on recovery. You can focus on your work at work. Stressing over work will only interfere with your rest and serenity and hinder your healing. Save the work for when you are back in tip-top shape and can really concentrate on getting those reports finished. Beleive it or not, if they are really that important, let someone else from the office do it.

So... try to leave the above items at home when you have to stay in the hospital. You really won't miss them while recuperating after your surgery, and they will be waiting for you just the same as you left them when you get home.

If you are having surgery and would like more information about how to prepare for surgery, reduce stress and heal quicker then download my free guide at http://www.PrepareForSurgeryNow.com

Mary Edison is also a health enthusiast, writer and entrepreneur. Through her websites and articles, she offers products and services that nurture and support the quality of life for all living things.

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Surgery at Academic Versus Private Hospitals

Do you need to undergo surgery? Do you have a choice of hospitals or surgeons to take care of you? If so, you probably have many questions and concerns about what is your best course of action. Facing surgery of any type can be quite frightening and stressful for many people. Putting your health in someone else's hands can be quite a leap of faith.

One of the largest concerns many people have is whether to choose a private or academic hospital for their care. While both are potentially excellent there can be some differences. The following comparison is a generalization. Not all academic or private hospitals are the same so you should investigate your own options as well.

Academic Versus Private Hospitals: What is the difference?

Generally, academic hospitals are teaching institutions. They are often associated with some university or other school system, although there are exceptions. What defines them is that academic training and/or research are conducted at these centers. This means that medical students, interns, residents and/or fellows may be involved in the care of patients.

A private hospital is one which is privately owned and operated. While there can be academic private hospitals, a purely private hospital does not generally train students, residents or fellows. Therefore, all your care is provided by physicians who have completed their training, along with nurses and/or physician assistants.

What are the advantages of a private hospital?

Private hospitals are often run very efficiently. Therefore, operating room schedules, clinics and other care is generally more prompt and efficient. Additionally, your surgeon and/or other physicians are all finished with their training. No students or physician trainees are involved in your care. Many patients find this to be an important point, but it is not always necessarily better, as will be discussed shortly. Finally, most large private medical centers are very efficient and skilled at treating "bread and butter" cases which are performed frequently. For example, general surgical procedures like an appendectomy or laproscopic cholecystectomy are often performed hundreds or thousands of times a year and are therefore done very well with a low rate of complications.

What are the advantages of an academic hospital?

Academic hospitals are often large medical centers with a full range of sub-specialties covered. Because of the number of physicians who have specialized interests in various areas you can often find the leaders of each field in an academic setting. Because of this sub-specialization and the resources available to a large academic center, many rare and complex cases are referred to them. For this reason, academic centers often have a larger clinical volume and therefore more experience with treatment of these difficult cases. For example, whereas a neurosurgeon at a small private hospital may only perform a few of a given procedure a year, a specialized neurosurgeon at an academic institution may see dozens or hundreds of that type of case.

Studies have shown that the outcomes and rate of complications with a given surgical procedure is strongly related to the experience and volume of such cases treated at a given institution. Therefore, outcomes are more likely to be better with fewer complications when a procedure is performed by an experienced team which has performed many of those procedures. For complex surgical procedures, most academic hospitals have superior volumes of such cases. There are exceptions of course, with some private hospitals supporting a large volume of complex cases in a particular area of specialization.

Finally, while some people would consider medical trainees a disadvantage, there are some advantages to having medical students and residents involved in your care to consider. Academic hospitals often have one or more resident and/or medical student on call and in the hospital at all times. They are responsible for the minute to minute care of patients on their service. The advantage of this can be that you may have more regular attention from a physician. In some private hospitals, physicians may not be as available, particularly during off-hours. Therefore, some people feel the continuity of care and the availability of doctors is greater in some academic institutions.

You must remember that faculty surgeons are often very busy individuals, pulled frequently in multiple directions. In a private setting they may be spread thing, without residents to back them up. In an academic setting, the resident team manages the patients day in and day out and therefore are often much more in tune with the minute to minute and day to day issues that may arise in your care. Knowing that you have a strong team caring for you may be comforting to many patients.

In the end, if you have a choice, you must go with what feels best to you. If you do not have first hand experience with a particular hospital or physician, ask someone who does. Ask how their care was conducted. What was the availability of physicians? How much of their care was through nurses, physician assistants, medical students, residents or others and was the care thorough and attentive? Only you know what form of care you will feel most comfortable with so go with your gut instinct. After all, your comfort during your surgery and hospitalization are most important.

Josh Dusick is the editor of Nervous System Diseases, at http://www.nervous-system-diseases.com, your guide to diseases of the neurological system, providing an in depth introduction that is understandable even if you do not have a background in science or medicine.

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