Before You Are Admitted

Questions to Ask Your Doctor
What to Bring to the Hospital
Admitting Procedures

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Why am I going to the hospital?
• What treatment is needed and how long will it take?
• What are the risks and benefits of treatment?
• Do I have other options?
• When I go home, what kind of help will I need with daily activities?
• For how long will I need this help?
• How often will I need checkups?
• Will I need any special follow-up care, such as physical therapy or home health services?
• Does my insurance company need to approve my hospital stay before I am admitted?

What to Bring to the Hospital

• Photo ID, such as a driver’s license or state ID
• Insurance card and information
• Pajamas, nightgown and robe, if you wish
• Personal toiletries, such as shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, denture cream and face creams
• Comfortable clothes to wear home
• Money, no more than $10 in cash, to purchase newspapers, magazines, etc.
• Assistive devices, such as walkers, crutches, canes, hearing aids or magnifying glasses labeled clearly with your name
• A list of prescription medications, dosages and schedule (please ask your physician beforehand if you should bring any of your medications to the hospital)
• Names and phone numbers of family members or friends to contact in an emergency
• Written list of past hospitalizations, illnesses, surgeries and allergies
• A copy of your Advance Directives, including the Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, if you have such documents

Please do not bring:

• Valuables such as cash, jewelry, credit cards and checkbooks. We cannot be responsible for your belongings. If you must bring valuables, please ask to have them deposited in the hospital safe.
• Personal electrical appliances, such as hair dryers, curling irons, electric shavers, heating pads, television sets, radios and cellular telephones

Admitting Procedures

On the day you are admitted to Rush, please come to the fourth-floor Atrium Building lobby, 1650 W. Harrison Street, across the street from the parking garage. Go to the Admitting/Registration Department on that floor. Admitting staff will ask you to sign a form that permits the hospital to release information to your insurance company, Medicare or Medicaid. If you have any questions beforehand, call admitting staff at (312) 942-5700. Most insurance companies require that you notify them about a planned hospitalization before you check into the hospital. If you have questions about insurance coverage, hospital benefits or the cost of your care, please call our financial counselors in the Business Office at (312) 942-5963.

Special Instructions for Obstetrics Patients

If you are pregnant and plan to deliver your baby at Rush, go directly to OB Registration on the sixth floor of the Jelke Building, 1750 W. Harrison Street. You can reach the OB Registration desk from Elevator E. For information about preadmitting procedures and other information, call the Labor and Delivery/OB admitting desk at (312) 942-2374.