PRE-ADMISSION
Information in this section explains what happens in preparation for your admission to hospital.
Your Hospital Booking
The booking for your hospital stay will be made through your doctor’s rooms.
Complete Admission Paperwork
For planned surgical patients, you’ll receive admission paperwork from your doctor's rooms. Please ensure you complete the forms and return them to Toronto Private Hospital.
Where possible, we require your admission forms one week prior to your admission date. This is important in order to confirm your hospital booking
Confirm Costs and Insurance Coverage
Prior to your admission, please contact our Admissions Office to verify your insurance and any out-of-pocket expenses you may incur from your hospital stay. Our staff are happy to answer any questions you may have about costs and insurance coverage. You may also wish to check with your health fund if you have any concerns.
For further information see:
Pre-Admission Instructions
If you are undergoing a surgical procedure at our hospital, you may be required to follow some pre-operative instructions prior to your admission, such as fasting. It’s important that you follow these instructions exactly as advised. Failure to do so may delay your procedure.
Admission Confirmation
You will be asked to contact the hospital the day before your scheduled admission to confirm your admission details, including the time of admission, your procedure and fasting time.
What to bring to Hospital
Please remember to bring the following to hospital (if relevant to you):
- Medicare card
- Private health insurance membership card
- Veterans' Affairs entitlement card
- Repatriation card
- Pension card
- Doctor referral letter and/or admission papers
- Relevant x-rays and scans
- All medications (in original packaging) that you are currently taking, including those purchased at the supermarket or health food store
- Any prescriptions (including authority prescriptions), and safety net number
- Sleepwear, dressing gown, slippers or comfortable shoes
- Personal toiletries (e.g. toothbrush, toothpaste, soap)
- Glasses and physical aids (e.g. walking stick, hearing aids)
If you don’t wish to wear pyjamas or sleepwear all day, you may wish to bring loose-fitting, comfortable clothing for day-time wear.
Please do not bring the following items with you:
- Talcum powder
- Jewellery
- Large sums of money
- Other valuables
ADMISSION
On Arrival
On the day of your admission, ensure you arrive at the hospital at the time designated by the admissions clerk or your doctor. On arrival, please register at reception. You’ll then be shown to your room.
Medications
On admission to hospital, you’ll be asked about the medications you are currently taking, and whether you have had any unexpected reactions or allergies to medications in the past. If so, these will be noted on your medication chart.
We take all possible precautions in relation to any personal items brought into the hospital. However the hospital accepts no responsibility for the security of patients' possessions, including jewellery, watches and money. Any valuables brought into the hospital can be signed-in to the hospital’s security safe for the duration of your stay.
Please note that mobile phones shouldn’t be used in the wards where electronic medical equipment is in use, as mobile phone signals may interfere with the correct functioning of these machines.
Types of Accommodation
Toronto Private Hospital has both shared and private rooms. All general patient rooms have ensuite facilities (some shared).
While we make every effort to provide your preferred accommodation type, please understand that in certain circumstances of high activity or emergency admissions, it may be necessary to admit you to a shared room.
Every bed has a colour television, and a radio incorporated in the telephone. Telephones are provided for personal use and some health funds cover the cost of local calls.
Other Services
Laundering of clothes, dry cleaning, hairdressing and other services can be arranged during your stay. Please speak to the nursing staff who can make the necessary arrangements for you.
Newspapers are available for patients’ use. Magazines and sweets can be purchased from a trolley service the Red Cross Volunteers provide Monday to Friday.
Preparing to go Home
Your doctor and hospital staff will confirm which day you can expect to go home from hospital, so you can make appropriate arrangements.
Before you leave hospital, you will be given information about what has happened to you during your time in hospital and details about any special treatments you may have to continue at home. With your permission, the hospital staff will let your general practitioner know when you’re leaving hospital.
Our staff will also prepare a discharge referral. This is a summary of medical information about your treatment in hospital, and any ongoing services that have been arranged for you. The discharge referral will either be sent directly to your general practitioner, or given to you to hand to your GP during your first visit after discharge from hospital.
Discharge
Please check with your nurse or clinical nurse manager before leaving the ward on the day of your discharge. You will need to collect any x-rays or medications, and confirm if you have any follow-up appointments.
Medications
The pharmacist will work with your doctor and ward nurses to arrange all the medications you need to take home with you.
On discharge, you‘ll be charged separately by the pharmacist for:
- Any scripts filled during your hospitalisation, including medications you may have been prescribed before your admission but ran out of
- Any new medications you require at the time of your discharge.
All patients are asked to report to Reception at the time of their discharge. If you have to wait for transport home, there is a comfortable waiting area provided in the hospital foyer.
Getting Home
It’s particularly important you arrange how you’ll get home from hospital. It may or may not be appropriate for you to drive yourself home. Please discuss this with the hospital staff and your doctor prior to discharge.
Special arrangements can be made to assist DVA patients get home safely after their hospital stay.
Short Stay
Short stay (day surgery) facilities are for patients who require a minor procedure or surgery. These patients are admitted and discharged on the same day.
As a short-stay (day-only) patient, you must assume more responsibility for your care, as you won’t be staying in hospital overnight. It’s important that short-stay patients are familiar with the following information, to ensure your day procedure runs smoothly and that you are properly prepared to go home.
- Pre-Admission
- Admission
- Discharge
Toronto Private Hospital has a veterans’ liaison officer who can assist DVA patients and co-ordinate all aspects of their stay.
If the patient being admitted is a child, please read this information in conjunction with information provided in the Caring for Children section.
Pre-Admission
Information in this section explains what happens in preparation for your admission to our Surgical or Day Surgery Units.
Your Hospital Booking
For planned admissions, the booking for your hospital stay will either be made by your admitting doctor or they will ask you to contact the hospital direct.
Once you have seen your doctor, please contact the Admissions Office to arrange or confirm your booking with us at least seven days prior to your admission, where possible.
If you present to the Admissions Office in person, you will be given some paperwork to complete, and a date and approximate time to arrive at the hospital for your surgery. In some instances, you may be asked to visit the pre-admission clinic to review your health history or receive instructions regarding your medications or tests required.
In some cases it is not necessary to present to the Admissions Office in person, as pre-admission instructions may be given over the phone. Please contact the Admission Office to confirm.
If you contact the Admission Office by phone, you will receive a return call from the pre-admission clinic so that the necessary paperwork and health history can be completed and appropriate instructions given.
You will be asked to ring the hospital the day before surgery, to confirm fasting and admission times.
In some cases, your doctor may book you in for a procedure the next day. It’s important that you contact us as soon as possible to confirm your admission and details relating to your hospital stay.
Confirm Cost Coverage
The cost of your procedure will vary depending on your level of health insurance and fund. Should you have any questions regarding the cost of your procedure or surgery, please contact us and ask to speak to our admission staff.
Contact your insurer (health fund, workers’ compensation insurer or other) to confirm exactly what costs will be covered. It is your responsibility to pay for any costs not covered by the above. See the following sections for additional information:
- Insurance & Accounts
- DVA
Admission Confirmation
You will be asked to contact the hospital the day before your scheduled admission, to confirm the time of admission, your procedure and fasting time.
Getting Ready for Hospital
Before coming to hospital, please organise and note the following:
- Do shower at home, including washing your hair and cleaning your teeth
- Don’t apply talcum powder, deodorant, perfume, make-up or nail polish
- Don’t wear contact lenses
- Do wear cotton underpants, low-heeled shoes, and loose, comfortable clothing (especially loose pants if you are having surgery to your legs or feet)
- Unless otherwise instructed by your doctor, anaesthetist or by the pre-admission nurse, take your current medications (with a sip of water) on the day of surgery
- You shouldn’t smoke 12 hours prior to surgery
- Leave all jewellery and valuables at home (you may wear a wedding band)
- Please arrange to be collected by a responsible adult after your surgery. You will not be allowed to drive home or take a taxi unaccompanied.
If you’re bringing a child to hospital for a procedure or surgery, it’s not advisable to bring other children with you as there are no facilities at the hospital to care for them. One parent or carer is allowed to remain to be with the child before and after surgery.
What to bring to Hospital
Please remember to bring the following to hospital:
- All medications you are currently taking (keep medication in its original packaging)
- Relevant x-rays
- Medicare card
- Private health insurance membership card
- Pensioner card
- Veterans' affairs entitlement card
- Safety Net or pharmacy entitlement card
- Drivers licence or accepted identification
- Workers compensation or other insurance details
- Any letters from your doctor
- Blood Group card (if available)
- Dressing gown and slippers or comfortable shoes
- Glasses and physical aids (walking sticks, hearing aids, etc.)
- A book to read, walkman or iPod
Children are encouraged to bring a favourite toy or teddy.
Please don’t bring the following items with you:
- Large sums of money
- Mobile phones
- Other valuables
The hospital accepts no responsibility for the security of patients' possessions, including jewellery, watches and money. Any valuables brought into the hospital can be signed-in to the hospital’s security safe for the duration of your stay.
Note that mobile phones shouldn’t be used in some areas of the hospital, as mobile phone signals can interfere with electronic medical equipment.
Fasting
It may be necessary for you to fast prior to your procedure or operation. This means :
- No fluids or food by mouth
- No chewing gum
It’s also advisable to refrain from smoking at least 12 hours prior to your surgery or procedure.
If the patient is a child, they must be kept under continuous observation by the parent, guardian or the person responsible for the welfare of the child – to ensure they have fasted.
Please note, you will be required to fast for six hours prior to your admission time, unless otherwise instructed.
Cold or Illness
Please contact the Day Surgery Unit or your doctor if you develop an illness prior to surgery.
Admission
On Arrival
To find out what time to arrive at hospital, contact our Admissions Office. It is important to arrive on time for your appointment, to allow time for your pre-operative preparation. Please contact the hospital if you anticipate arriving later than the appointed time.
On arrival, please register at the hospital’s reception desk. You’ll then be shown to the appropriate Unit. If you have not already completed a Patient Admission History Questionnaire, you will be asked to do so on admission. Information from this questionnaire helps the doctors and nurses give you the best possible care.
After being admitted by the nurse, you will be required to change in to a hospital gown and dressing gown. Usually the anaesthetist will see you prior to your procedure.
We wish to advise you may experience some delay or waiting time prior to your surgery. Occasionally delays occur due to unexpected changes in the clinical scheduling requirements of your treating doctors. We appreciate your understanding and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
What to Expect
After your procedure, you will wake up in the Recovery Room where experienced staff will care for you. Once you’ve recovered from the effects of anaesthesia, you’ll be transferred to the Day Surgery Recovery Lounge or Surgical Unit to continue your recovery. You will be offered light refreshments prior to discharge.
Generally you will be discharged two-to-four hours after your procedure. For more complex procedures, the length of stay will depend on your post operative condition.
Children
Children are encouraged to visit the hospital prior to their admission to familiarise them with the surroundings. This can help reduce anxiety. A family member or carer is encouraged to remain with the child before and after surgery.
Types of Accommodation
Patients should be aware that our Day Surgery facilities are shared facilities, not individual rooms. To ensure your privacy, curtains partition each bed. As your recovery progresses, you will be moved to a recliner chair.
Discharge
All patients are required to be formally discharged by the Day Surgery or Surgical Unit staff.
Prior to discharge, you’ll be given any necessary post-operative instructions, including your prescriptions, medications, x-ray and details of follow-up appointments with your doctor if required.
Getting Home
If you’ve had heavy sedation or a general anaesthetic, you won’t be permitted to leave the Unit alone. Please note the following:
- You’ll need to arrange to be picked up and taken home after your procedure. If you have had a general anaesthetic, a responsible adult needs to be present with you for the first night you are home
- Staff will contact the person who is picking you up when you’re fit to go home
- Transportation home by taxi is not permitted, unless you have an escort who accepts responsibility to take you home
- For your own comfort and safety, you shouldn’t take any alcoholic beverage for at least 24 hours after discharge
- After general anaesthetic, patients aren’t permitted to drive any motor vehicle, operate machinery or make any important decisions for at least 24 hours.
Special arrangements can be made to assist DVA patients to get home safely after their hospital stay.
If you have any questions regarding any aspect of your Day Surgery Admission, please contact the hospital.
