Preparing to Go Home

Discharge Planning

Recent advances in medical treatment and technology, as well as in the therapies available outside the hospital, have greatly reduced the length of time most people must be in a hospital. Today, only patients who are acutely ill need to stay in a hospital for care.

Although you may no longer need the hospital's acute level of care, you may still require some type of continuing care after you leave. It is important that you consider your discharge plans almost immediately upon your hospital admission to ensure that arrangements are in place when you are medically ready for discharge. Early planning will speed your recovery, avoid costly delays and optimize your use of healthcare resources.

Staff from our Care Management Department will work with you and the hospital team to coordinate services for your post-hospital care. Depending on your individual needs, these services may include use of our outpatient physical, occupational or speech therapy services; outpatient cardiac rehabilitation; outpatient nutrition counseling; outpatient pulmonary services; home care services; a skilled nursing facility; or rehabilitation hospital.

Every patient is assigned a case manager upon admission to the hospital. Because these decisions and arrangements may be difficult and time-consuming, you and your family should talk with a member of the Social Work or Case Management Departments as soon as possible. Our staff can also help to answer questions about your insurance coverage.

For more information call the Lankenau Medical Center Care Management Department at 484-476-8021 or 484-476-2171.

Discharge Day

To help your discharge from our hospital go smoothly, please:

• Withdraw any valuables you have kept in the hospital safe
• Pack all your personal belongings
• Advise family members or friends that the expected discharge time is 12:00 noon
• Leave a forwarding address in the event you are not returning to the address recorded with Admissions

Your case manager or social worker has worked with you and your family to identify and provide any continuing services you may need at home. Before you leave the hospital, your physician or nurse will review discharge instructions including medications, diet, activity restrictions and future appointments.

Maternity patients and their babies may be discharged from the hospital directly from the Labor/Delivery/Recovery Suite with physician permission. We remind parents to bring a car seat, as Pennsylvania law requires that all infants be restrained in a car seat while in a moving vehicle.

Medications

Be sure you have the right medicine. When you pick up your medicines, ask the pharmacist to confirm that you have the correct medicine. Also ask why you are taking the medication and request written information about possible side effects.

Be sure you understand all medication directions and know how to take each medicine. Review any special directions on your medicine labels.

If you are given a liquid medication, ask your pharmacist about the best way to measure your dose.

Billing

Patient Financial Services Office
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sat 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Phone: 1-888-400-5723

The Patient Financial Services Office is available to answer any questions you may have about your hospital bill and methods of payment.

After your insurance company has made its payment, you will receive a statement for the balance due. You are responsible for the unpaid portion of your bill.

It is the hospital's policy to provide necessary hospital care, free of charge, to patients who meet certain financial criteria. If you feel that you cannot afford to pay your hospital bill, please contact the Patient Financial Services Office.

Your Hospital Bill

Your basic room rate includes the charges for:

• Your room
• Regular, special-diet, or alternative-menu meals
• General nursing care

Your basic room rate does not include the following common charges:

• Guest or visitor meals
• Coronary care or intensive care units
• Electrocardiograms
• Laboratory tests
• Operating or delivery room
• Physical, occupational or speech therapy
• Respiratory therapy
• Special drugs or medications
• X-ray examinations or treatment

You will receive a separate bill for:

• Anesthesia fees
• Physicians' fees
• Private duty nurse's fees

If you have any questions regarding your hospital bill or payment methods, please call the Patient Financial Services Office at 1-888-400-4723.

Your Physician's Bill

Your physician's bill is separate from your hospital bill. Your attending physician and any consulting physicians will bill you directly.

Hospital-based physicians, including anesthesiologists, radiologists, pathologists and Emergency Department physicians, will also bill you directly. For questions regarding these bills, please call:

United Anesthesiologists — 800-222-1442
Main Line Emergency Room Physicians — 877-438-0745
Main Line Pathology Associates — 1-888-625-4685
Radiology Associates of the Main Line — 800-575-7892
Main Line Imaging (MRI & PET/CT)  — 800-800-1617
Main Line Health Labs — 610-229-4100; www.mainlinehealth.org/labs
Main Line Health Care — 484-565-1640; www.mainlinehealth.org/mlhc 

Please ask your attending physician and hospital-based physicians the extent to which they participate in your insurance plan. Not all physicians participate to the same degree as the hospital.