Instructions for patients who must undergo a surgical operation.

Directives to patients who will be hospitalized in reactivation / rehabilitation for complex continuing care on the North Wing.

Before your surgery

• Decrease smoking one to two weeks before surgery. You should not smoke after 6 p.m. the evening before your surgery.
• Do not eat after 8 p.m. the evening before your surgery. Liquids are allowed until midnight (but no dairy products or alcohol). AFTER MIDNIGHT, DO NOT DRINK, EAT OR SMOKE. Don't chew gum the morning of your surgery.
• Take a bath or shower and clean your navel thoroughly with Q-tips if your surgery is on your abdomen.
• Leave all jewelry (including body piercing jewelry, metal items, hair clips and money) at home.
• Remove nail polish and contact lenses.
• Do not apply make-up on the morning of your surgery.
• You can brush your teeth or gargle the morning of your surgery but do not swallow anything.
• Apply antiperspirant or deodorant only if your surgery isn't in the area of your underarms.
• Wear loose fitting clothing to be more comfortable following your surgery. Children are encouraged to bring a favorite toy with them. You may bring a "walkman" and tapes or Compact Disks if you are having a spinal anesthetic.

On admission
On the day of your surgery, register with the Emergency Room clerk between 7 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. Once this is done, follow the red dots on the floor to the Day Surgery Unit. Look for the violet "J" sign to your left.

A nurse will greet you and tell you the time of your surgery (between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.). You may have one attendant accompany you and stay with you. For endoscopies and minor surgeries without anesthesia, the attendant must wait in the waiting room in the front lobby of the hospital.

• You will be asked to put on a hospital gown. You may leave your clothes with your attendant or you can store them in a locker which you can lock.
• A nurse will record your weight, temperature and blood pressure.
• You will be placed on a stretcher and covered with a warm blanket.
• Your file will be completed and any questions you may have will be answered.
• If needed, a nurse will shave the area to be operated on, give you an enema and start an intravenous.
• You may be given a sedative ( by mouth) or a Ventolin treatment, if ordered. If you are having a general anesthetic, your dentures and/or eye glasses will be removed just prior to your surgery and kept in the recovery room.

If you are going home on the same day as your surgery:

• Please ensure that at all times, we can contact a responsible person to take you home. You are not allowed to stay alone for a period of 24 hours and you are not allowed to drive for 24 hours.
• A nurse will call you at home the day following your surgery.

• The person accompanying you will be responsible for your personal possessions.

To insure the maximum comfort and efficiency during your stay, we will ask you to meet certain requirements.

Admission:

• Plan on wearing comfortable and loose clothing and low heel shoes.
• Have your personnel equipment with you: walker, cane, wheelchair, articles to help you dress yourself and articles of personal hygiene, etc.
• Depending on your specific needs, additional or specific equipment will be allocated to you and will be modified throughout your stay.

You may be assured of quality nursing care as we have competent and caring staff. During your stay, you will be under the care of a team of physicians who will visit once a week, on a rotating basis. However, your own family physician can come and visit.

Note: The nurse in charge can reach the physician on call, any time when needed.

Your medication

Upon your admission, the pharmacist will review your file and revise your medication to ensure correct dosage and evaluate drug interactions and /or drug induced adverse effects. The pharmacist is part of the multidisciplinary team and makes recommendations to improve the individual patient drug therapy.

• The nursing staff will give you the medication that has been ordered by the doctor.
• In special cases you may be asked to provide your own medication program.
• Upon request the pharmacist can provide verbal/written information on your medication.
• If you take any natural products or vitamin supplements, we would like to know so we can advise the doctor.
• It is very important to have an updated list of all your medication, natural products and vitamin supplements.

If your condition requires maintenance, comfort and pain control, these services are offered by the Palliative Care team. The team is composed of a nurse coordinator, a consulting physician and specially-trained volunteers.

Food Services

Meals are planned according to:

1. The Canada Food Guide
2. A dietitian's assessment, if required
3. Your dietary needs
4. The doctor's prescription
5. The specific recommendations for swallowing (at all time, please respect signs above your bed and if in doubt, check with our nursing staff)

• You can take your meals in your room or in the dining room close to the nursing station.
• On special occasions ex: Christmas, New Year, Easter, etc. appropriate meals are served.

Together with the dietitian, the occupational therapist evaluates any difficulty (observed or suspected) to swallow; she also establishes the appropriate recommendations that will be both adequate and safe. A periodical evaluation is planned when needed.

During your stay:

• Anytime you leave the unit, please advise your nurse in order to respect medication and therapy time.
• The bulletin board close to the dining room indicates the daily therapy schedule. Consult it regularly so you can plan your day.
• Your family and your visitors will also have to respect the schedule of your therapies.
• Depending on your progress, you will be responsible for the major portion or the total part of your personal care.
• You might need to attend consultation or check-up appointments; your spouse or family members are encouraged to accompany you to those appointments.
• Please respect all the bedside guidelines e.g.
  • positioning
  • deglutition
  • diet

When the time comes to plan a short stay at home before your discharge, we will clearly explain the requirements you will have to meet to leave the hospital.

The weekend pass allows you to return to your home and experience daily living. You will participate in different daily activities in order to assess your abilities and level of functioning. You will also have the chance to identify the problems you encounter. The obstacles will allow us to adjust your therapy and organize proper services at home.

Before you leave, we will give you a questionnaire. Please fill it in and give it back to the personnel upon return. All passes require a doctor's authorization. When you get a weekend pass, we must prepare the medication you will take home, so we ask you to let us know 48 hours in advance to ensure that the pharmacy has sufficient time to prepare it. We also have to cancel your meals.

Other services

• Visiting hours - visiting hours are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. We encourage families to come and take part in the daily activities as well as in the care of their loved one.
• Pets are welcome as long as they are clean and quiet. Their presence must not generate complaints from staff members or other patients. Your pet must be kept in your room. Visits to other patients' rooms are not allowed unless your pet is part of the Pet Therapy Program.

A television set is located in the dining room for the enjoyment of all the patients of the north wing. If you prefer to have a television set in your room, you can make a request by filling in the appropriate forms available at the nursing station. The fees are payable every week. The security guard working on the evening shift will do the installation and collect the fees.

Laundry

We suggest that each patient bring a laundry bag for their soiled clothing. In your closet, there is also a plastic bag that can be used for soiled clothing. Using a bag prevents your personal belongings from being misplaced. We ask that you clearly identify all your clothing.

Hairdresser

You or your family can make an appointment with a hairdresser of your choice. If you prefer, the service of a hairdresser is available upon request. The clerk at the nursing station can help you. You must pay cash at the time the service is rendered.

Foot care

When needed, Chiropody services are available as well as management of basic foot nail care.

Tobacco

Smoking is banned in the hospital and on the patio for patients, visitors and all family members. There is a smoking shelter outside the hospital, east side, near the Emergency. When possible, volunteers can accompany patients that require help or supervision.

The patio furniture was donated to us for your enjoyment. When weather permits, you can use the patio if accompanied by a friend or family member. We ask your cooperation to keep it clean. Thank you.

Volunteers

• Patient Services:
  Our patient care volunteers can help you in many ways by:
  • dispensing water and ice if and when appropriate
  • helping to feed you
  • doing manicures, washing, styling your hair, shaving beards
  • reading or entertaining you
  • keeping you company
  • washing your clothes if you have no one else to look after you
• Pastoral Care
  • communion is available on a daily basis
  • our chapel is located on the floor of the North Wing

The planning of your discharge begins as soon as you arrive at the hospital. Are you returning to the same residence? Are you planning on moving to a new residence? Will your actual and future medical condition allow you to resume your former activities? What are your personal expectations? The answer to those questions will not only provide guidance for your therapy's objectives but also identify the available resources that you will need upon your discharge.

1. Attaining your maximum level of functioning, the medical limitations of your condition, your own decision to stop the rehabilitation will all be determining factors when it comes to your discharge.
2. In collaboration with your friends, family and yourself, the efficient organization of your discharge will be the result of a multidisciplinary assessment: each team member implicated directly or indirectly in your care will contribute their expertise and bring their particular recommendations.

• Assistance in the process of finding a new residence
• Establishing contacts with the personnel of the new residence who will be responsible of your future care.
• Establishing contacts with the Community Care Access Center (CCAC) or with the CLSC for follow-up at home (therapy and/or home care, nursing care)
• Out patient therapy done here at the hospital.
• Loan, rental, recommendations for technical assistance and/or equipment.