Hospital Stay Information
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Preparing For Your Hospital Stay
Get Information and Help
MeritCare Guest Services offers help and information to patients and visitors. Contact them at:
- (701) 234-5524
- (800) 437-4010, ext. 5524 toll-free
Plan Ahead
- Read any education materials from your doctor or nurse about your condition.
- Practice the breathing, leg and relaxation exercises as your doctor advises.
- Request a hearing or language interpreter, if needed for your hospital stay, through your doctor.
- For the health and safety of patients, visitors and staff, smoking is not allowed in any MeritCare building or property. If you feel that your emotional and/or physical well-being may be affected by this, talk with your doctor to explore other non-smoking alternatives before coming to the hospital.
- Arrange for a ride home.
- Familiarize yourself with the patient bill of rights
Forms and Other Documents
- Pre-admission form should be completed and returned by mail as directed.
- Insurance information, including names of companies and policy numbers. You should be clear about how to get authorization from your insurance company for the procedure, how claims are filed and your responsibility for payment, if applicable. If you are not insured, call Patient Accounts at (701) 234-1191.
- Medication record, including all current prescribed medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and/or herbs you are taking. These products may interact with anesthesia or affect how well your blood clots. Your health care team can make adjustments if they know what you are taking.
- Advance Directive (a Living Will and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care). Consider completing this process before your stay. If you already have one, please bring a copy with you.
What to Bring to the Hospital
- Necessary forms and other documents.
- All current medications in their original containers.
- Containers for glasses, dentures or hearing aids.
- Toiletries.
- No more than $25 cash.
- No valuables.
- No jewelry.