Prepare for Your Hospital Stay

Use the list below to help you prepare for your hospital stay at MD Anderson.

Review patient education in MyChart

Your care team may have shared patient education documents and visit instructions for you to review before you arrive.

Take time to review directions and information before your admission.

This may include reviewing pre-surgery instructions sent to you in MyChart.

Check insurance coverage

Talk to your insurance provider to make sure treatments and care are authorized.

Ask about anything else you should know prior to admission.

Patients scheduled for surgery must call the Admissions Office at 713-792-6136 at least 1 day before the surgery/procedure to complete the admission process.  The Admissions Office is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Medicare patients who expect to have a hospital stay longer than 24 hours should report to the Admissions Office no more than 48 hours before surgery to receive and sign important Medicare information as required by law.

Plan your travel and parking

The MD Anderson Directions mobile app will help you plan travel to the hospital and find the nearest parking. Learn more about the MD Anderson Directions app or download it from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

Visitors are welcome

As part of the healing process, we welcome families, caregivers, friends and other visitors. Go to our Patient Visitation Policy page to learn about visiting hours, overnight guests and rules for children who are visitors.

What to bring

Here are ideas from other patients and caregivers:

• Your own pillow
• Pajamas to make you feel more at home
• Bathrobe or cover-up for walking the halls
• Plenty of underwear and thick socks
• Comfortable slip-on shoes or slippers
• Personal throw blanket to make you feel more at home
• Loose clothing to wear once you feel up to it
• A loose outfit to wear home
• Earplugs if you are a light sleeper
• Chargers for electronic devices (consider long cords to comfortably reach your device while it is charging)
• iPad/laptop and charger
• Books or Kindle with charger
• Earbuds or headphones
• Toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant
• Hair comb and brush
• Soap, skin care products, and hair care products if you prefer your own
• Glasses/contacts, cleaner, case (if applicable)
• Dentures, holder, and other related items (if applicable)
• Hearing aids, container, and batteries (if applicable)
• An updated and accurate medications/supplements list to verify medications prescribed during your stay
• Journal or notebook and several pens for notes about your care. Document decisions that are made, medications given and when, how much physical exercise (laps) and when, instructions for respiratory therapy and when, etc.  
• Personal photos to tape on walls, a photo album of family, friends, or whatever makes you smile.

What to expect

When you arrive, you’ll be checked in at Admissions. Once you are assigned a room, you’ll receive the Hospital Stay Guide. This guide will help you know what to expect during your stay.

Advice from patients and caregivers:

• Take an active role in your treatment and be your own advocate.
• Ask questions about your admission before you get to the hospital.
• Review your perioperative instructions.
• Write down your questions for the doctor each day of your stay. All questions are welcome!
• It's OK to ask for rest or quiet time.
• Inform your care team about pain level if it changes.
• Speak up if something doesn’t feel right.
• Ask about expectations for returning home - medicine, pain management, special equipment, etc.

Planning to go home

Your clinical team works with you and your caregiver early in your stay to prepare you for discharge from the hospital. The case manager navigators assess your needs and help you  and your family find any additional care, education or resources. Arrangements can be made for various services, including:

• Ambulance service
• Medical equipment
• Home health care
• Palliative care
• Hospital transfers
• Rehabilitation

If you had surgery, a responsible adult (18 years of age or older) must be available to receive discharge instructions and take you home after your procedure.

If possible, it’s helpful for your caregiver to be available the morning of discharge to hear any post-discharge education and help you prepare to leave the hospital.

• This person can come with you, or you can provide their contact information when you check in.
• This person must be available to speak with the care team by phone.
• You will not receive sedation medicine until the care team speaks to this person and confirms that they are available to receive discharge instructions and take you home after the procedure.
• If you do not have a responsible adult prepared to speak with the care team by phone and available to take you home, your procedure will be rescheduled.
• If you are discharged the day of your procedure, it is recommended that you have a caregiver stay with you for 24 hours after your procedure.
• If possible, it’s helpful for your caregiver to be available the morning of discharge to hear any post-discharge education and help you prepare to leave the hospital.
• A friend or family member should get the car to pick you up.