For Patients: Prior to Coming

Prior to Coming

Your booking will be made through your doctor’s surgery. For a smooth admission process, we ask that you attend to the following matters prior to your admission.

PRE-ADMISSION INFORMATION:

Clerical pre-admission

Pre-admission is an important part of your hospital care. To ensure we can confirm your admission, financial and other arrangements, we ask that you:

Fill in the online admission form, or complete the admission form that you would have received from your doctor, as soon as possible and send it back to the hospital.

Please have the following ready when you fill in your admission form:
1. Personal/ Next of Kin details.
2. Medicare Card.
3. Funding details (e.g., Department of Veterans Affairs, private health insurance, workcover or self funding).
4. Benefit details (e.g., pension/ concession card, pharmaceutical entitlement card and Safety Net Number).
5. Item numbers, if these were quoted by doctors’ rooms.
6. Information your doctor supplied to you regarding implantable medical devices (e.g., prosthetic and disposables) – if applicable.
If you have any concerns with step 1, please telephone (02) 4255 5053 between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm or send an email to BookingOffice.FIG@ramsayhealth.com.au

If you have private health cover, please contact your health fund prior to admission to check for any excess or waiting periods. We know that health and billing charges can be difficult to understand and we are happy to assist in any way we can, however we also advise that you seek clarification from your doctor and health fund.

Over the last year Ramsay Healthcare has improved services (Austar, WIFI, internet kiosk and personal robes for day patients) at significant cost, across all the hospitals in Australia. The implementation of these services was commenced in response to feedback from patient satisfaction surveys and increasing demand. As a consequence, we charge a modest fee ($25 for overnight and $15 for day only), to make these services and products available to all inpatients and day patients, as the health funds do not cover these costs.

Overall we have had a very good response from patients with high levels of take up for Austar, the internet kiosk and WIFI.

The incidental fee is payable upon admission to the Hospital.

Nursing Pre-admission Information

You may be contacted by telephone prior to your day of admission by our Pre-admission nurse. If you are contacted:

Your medial history will be reviewed with you and admission and discharge details discussed.
Please take this opportunity to discuss any concerns regarding your admission.

Your doctor will notify the hospital of the date of your procedure/ operation and inform you of your day of admission. Your doctor will also explain your procedure or operation and complete the consent form with you.

Pre admission Clinic

Many patients visit the Pre-admission Clinic 7-10 days prior to surgery. The clinic has been established to:

Confirm your details, including date and proposed time of your admission.
Ensure paperwork is complete and ready for your admission.
Order tests prior to your procedure.
To provide information and answer questions regarding preparing for your procedure and your expectations relating to your stay, discharge and post discharge care.

When you book in to the Hospital you will be asked to attend a pre-admission interview. The pre-admission interviews are conducted between the hours of 8.30 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday and it is preferable that you attend in person to complete or deliver the necessary paperwork. You can bring a relative or friend with you if you wish. The length of time taken to conduct the interview varies and you may have to wait. If you are unable to attend, please telephone our Pre-admission nurse with your details on (02) 4255 5102.

Alternatively, you may be asked to see our General Practitioner clinic doctor. An appointment will be made by your doctor’s receptionist or when you bring in your forms/ papers to the Hospital. Please bring the following to your interview:

Pre-admission “booking in” form from your doctor.
Medicare card, private health fund details and card, Department of Veterans Affairs card, pension/concession card, pharmaceutical entitlement card and Safety Net number.
Consent and privacy forms.
Any other information/ requests for tests your doctor has given you.
A list from your doctor of your current medications, their strength and dosages.
A list of previously operations/ anaesthetics including Day Surgery and colonoscopy procedures.
Any relevant information from your General Practitioner.

PREPARING FOR SURGERY:

To ensure your stay with us is as comfortable and pleasant as possible, the following information will assist you.

The preparation for surgery varies slightly according to the nature of the operation to be performed.

Ask your doctor if you need special medical preparation for your procedure.

To prepare for surgery:

If you are coming to hospital on the same day that you are having surgery, please contact the Bookings Office to confirm your admission, arrival and fasting time on (02) 4255 5053 between 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm the day prior to your admission, or on Friday before admission from between 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm if the procedure is to take place on a Monday. If you are being admitted on a Sunday, please ring (02) 4255 5053 between 2.00pm and 5.00 pm the Friday before. Admission time will be between 3.30 pm and 5.00 pm.
If you are being admitted the day before your procedure, you should come to the Hospital at 4.00 pm, unless your doctor has directed otherwise.
If you are unable to arrive at the pre-specified time, please notify us as soon as possible on (02) 4255 5053.
Unless otherwise instructed, do not have anything to eat or drink SIX hours prior to surgery – this includes water, lollies and chewing gum.
You should not smoke or drink alcohol 24 hours prior to admission. Please note: Figtree Private Hospital is a smoke free campus since 31 May 2011.
Inform us if you are Diabetic or on Warfarin, Aspirin, Clopidogrel or other blood thinning medications.
Do not take Diabetic medication/ insulin if you are fasting from midnight. Bring medication/ insulin with you. If you are to fast following an early morning breakfast, please check with your doctor regarding taking your medication.
Do take normal blood pressure/ heart, Parkinson, thyroid, reflux and epileptic medications with a small amount of water.
Check with your doctor about continuing anti-inflammatories, Aspirin/ Warfarin/ Clopidogrel and other blood thinning medication prior to your surgery. If you are unsure if the medication you are taking is one of these types, please ask your doctor.
Notify us if you have acquired any major illness that may affect your procedure since consulting your doctor and please notify him/ her prior to your admission.
Bathe or shower with medicated soap provided by the hospital which can be collected during your pre-admission interview or from Reception prior to your admission. Do not apply make up, talcum powder or deodorant after your shower.
Do not wear makeup or jewellery or body piercings.
Remove all nail polish from fingers and toes. Acrylic nails need not be removed.
Pathology may have been requested by your doctor. Please follow the instructions given to you by him/ her. The Pre-admission nurse may provide pathology request forms at your interview

Day procedure patients (additional information)

Please shower on the day of admission before coming to the Day Surgery Unit and put on clean clothes.
Wear garments that are comfortable and easy to remove.
Check with your nurse before informing relatives/ friends regarding the time that you should be picked up. Our staff will ring your nominated driver when you are ready for discharge.

Prior to coming

Preparing for surgery