During the weeks before your surgery, many people will be asking about your insurance coverage, medical history and legal arrangements. You may feel that you are answering the same questions over and over again, but this redundancy is necessary to meet quality assurance and medical insurance guidelines. If you have everything written down, you can reduce your frustration and speed the process. Be sure to include the following information:
- A designated family member or friend as your primary contact to receive information from the doctor and disseminate it to other family members and friends.
- A list of all the doctors you currently see and your reasons for seeing them. Provide names, addresses and phone numbers.
- A list of medical conditions and all previous operations, including those that are not bone-and-joint operations.
- A list of all the medications you currently take on a regular basis. Copy the name of the medication, the dosage and the frequency (daily, twice a day, etc.) from the prescription bottle. Don't forget to include vitamin and mineral supplements or other over-the-counter medications you take regularly. Your doctor may advise you to stop taking certain medications or supplements a week or two before your surgery.
- A list of any allergies or adverse reactions you've had to drugs or anesthesia in the past. Provide the name of the drug, why you were taking it, a description of your reaction and when this happened.
- Any dietary restrictions or other health problems you have, such as diabetes, asthma, HIV or hepatitis.
- A list of your insurance coverages, including the name of the insurance company, the plan or group number and contact information. Be sure to bring your insurance cards to the hospital with you.
- Information about any legal arrangements you've made, such as a living will or durable power of attorney. Bring a copy of the documents with you to the hospital.
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