Preparing for Your Visit

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COVID-19: View our temporary visitor guidelines.

We are honored you have chosen Saint Luke’s for your health care needs. Please review the following information to help prepare for your hospital stay.

What to bring to the hospital:

  • Health insurance plan card
  • Prescription insurance plan card
  • Personal identification, such as a valid driver’s license, state identification card, or passport
  • HMO/PPO referral forms (if required)
  • Any outside medical records, X-ray films, or prior test results not taken at this hospital (if your physician has requested them)
  • Written letter of authorization from your insurance carrier (if required)
  • A copy of your advance directive or living will
  • List of medications you are currently taking
  • Essential personal items, such as glasses, dentures, hearing aids, walker, or wheelchair
  • Personal hygiene items, such as a comb/brush, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, and other toiletries you may need
  • Clothing for your stay and for discharge
  • Things to do, such as reading, writing, laptop, tablet
  • If desired, a small amount of cash to pay for newspapers, gift shop items, and other miscellaneous purchases

What not to bring:

  • Jewelry
  • Valuables
  • Tobacco, marijuana, electronic cigarettes and vapes (Saint Luke’s is a smoke-free campus)
  • Large amounts of cash
  • Medications from home (unless specifically requested by care team)

Saint Luke’s cannot take responsibility for personal property in your room. We encourage you to leave all valuables at home. If needed, your nurse can help you lock items in a safe.

Dentures, eyeglasses, and hearing aids

Ask your nurse for a denture cup to protect your dentures when not in use. If you wear glasses, contact lenses, or a hearing aid, place them in their protective cases and put in the bedside table drawer. We will help you take every precaution to prevent loss or breakage, but we cannot be responsible for replacing your personal items.

Electrical equipment

Electrical items, such as radios, electric razors, and hair dryers, must be checked by nursing personnel prior to use.

Staff identification

All physicians, nurses, employees, and volunteers wear photo ID badges. Anyone providing care should be properly identified. You have the right to know the name, title, and reason for visit for each person who enters your room.

Your room

You’ll be assigned a room based on your diagnosis and room availability. The room number is posted outside your door. Each room, except in the Intensive Care Units (ICU), has a private phone located at the bedside. The phone number is on the white board. Please be courteous of others and keep the volume of conversations and the television as low as possible.

Hospital bed

Your nurse will show you how to properly use the electronically operated hospital bed. Because this bed is higher and narrower than regular beds, it has rails for your protection. These rails can be raised and adjusted for your comfort and safety.

Calling your nurse

Use the call light on your bedside remote to alert the nursing station when you need assistance. A light will flash above your door. Your team will be caring for two to six patients depending on your unit. A staff member will respond as soon as possible. You can help us better meet your needs by grouping your requests. However, we are always around to help and it’s our priority to make sure all your needs are met.

Fall risk

After surgery or other procedures, you may be unsteady on your feet and be at risk of falling. We ask that you call your nurse if you need to get up so that they can help.

Leaving inpatient areas

There may be times when you want to leave your nursing unit. However, you may not be allowed to leave for medical reasons. Please check with your nurse before leaving.

Pain management

Our goal is to keep you as comfortable as possible. Please report any pain to your physician or nurse. It’s easier to manage pain early, so don’t wait until your pain becomes severe.

Many pain medications are not scheduled for set times, so let us know when you need it. If you are able, please describe the type of pain you are experiencing in as much detail as you can. Tell a team member if you experience any side effects, such as dizziness, nausea, constipation, drowsiness, or itching. Let your nurse know what works best at decreasing your pain so it can be included in your care plan.

Patient advocate

We want your stay to be as pleasant as possible, and we welcome your comments and suggestions. This feedback helps us in our ongoing effort to improve our care and services. The patient advocate serves as a liaison between patients, families, and Saint Luke’s. To reach a patient advocate while you’re hospitalized, call the operator and ask to be connected to the patient advocate. If you need help after hours or on weekends, please ask for the charge nurse.

Once your concern is received, we’ll start investigating the issue and, in most cases, respond within 24 hours. Most patient concerns can be handled by Saint Luke’s staff immediately.

Patient meal services

While in the hospital, you will order food from the cafeteria. You will be provided with a menu based on what diet your physician has ordered. Depending on procedures or different diagnoses, you may be placed on a specialized diet or NPO (nothing by mouth) to prepare for tests or procedures. Please ask your nurse if you have any questions about your diet. A registered dietitian is available to educate you about nutrition and any changes you may need to make after you’re discharged.

If ordering food to be delivered, you or a visitor must be able to retrieve it from an entrance as food delivery personnel are not allowed inside the hospital. Please speak to your nurse before ordering any outside food to make sure it is appropriate for your ordered diet.

Visitation guidelines

Read our visitor guidelines for those visiting our clinics, hospitals, and other locations.

Internet/Wi-Fi

Saint Luke’s provides complimentary wireless internet. Choose “Guest” in your laptop or device settings. No password needed.

Discharge

Going home  
Your physician will write a discharge order on your chart, and your nurse will give you home care instructions as directed by your physician. Please ask your physician to contact a case manager if you need assistance with discharge planning, such as home health.

Personal dismissal checklist  
Check with your nurse for your specific dismissal instructions. Pack your personal belongings, and check all drawers, closets, and bathrooms. Reclaim valuables from safekeeping if something has been stored.

Paying your bill

Hospital bills can either be paid by check or using our online bill pay service at mysaintlukeskc.org. Your hospital charges do not include attending physician’s fees, the fees of other consulting physicians, or the fees of specialists who interpret tests. These physicians will bill you separately.

If you anticipate any difficulty in paying your bill, please contact Patient Accounting Customer Service. Your charges are based on the length of your stay and services you received.

Patient portal

With mySaintLuke’s, you can easily and securely access your medical information at your convenience.

  • Access virtual visits
  • View summaries from your hospital and clinic visits
  • Review test and lab results and radiology reports
  • Communicate with your providers
  • Schedule appointments
  • Request prescription refills
  • Pay your bill

Visit mysaintlukeskc.org to login or create an account.