Things to bring with you
- Phone number of your emergency contact
- Insurance cards and forms
- Two forms of Identification
- Applicable deductible payments
- Any information from your physician
- List of current medications
- Immunization information
- Advance directives (living will, healthcare power of attorney, advance instruction for mental health treatment)
- Personal items (toiletries, robe, slippers, pajamas – before bringing food from home/outside please contact the nursing staff)
- Information for discharge arrangements (who will pick you up from the hospital, where you will go after you leave the hospital)
- Reading material
Valuables and Personal Items
If you brought valuables such as jewelry or cash to the hospital, please send them home with a family member or friend. If you must keep valuables with you, ask your nurse to lock them in the hospital safe. You will be given a receipt for them. The hospital is not responsible for valuables and cash kept in your room. Speak to your nurse when you are ready to have your valuables removed from the hospital safe.
Advance Directives
Many patients have completed legal documents called Advance Directives to prepare for a time that they may not be able to make healthcare decisions for themselves. If you have Advance Directives, please bring them with you when you come to the hospital. If you have not taken this important step to protect your wishes concerning your medical treatment, we offer information and a toolkit here to assist you with completing you advance care planning.
Medical Records
Medical Records can by picked up or requested during normal business hours and excluding holidays, Monday – Friday, 8:00am until 4:00pm. For more information, click here.
Paws for Healing – Pet Therapy Program
We are excited to welcome our four legged, furry friends as part of the Outer Banks Health team. We now have nationally certified Pet Therapy dogs who can visit patients and families upon request. Our dogs will always be accompanied by a certified Pet Therapy volunteer. You can request a visit with your nurse.
What you need to know:
- The handler will always check in with a nurse on the clinical units prior to visiting.
- The nurse should make the handler aware of any patients who should not receive a visit.
- If a patient is contraindicated for a visit, a physician order must be obtained prior to the visit.
- The handler will receive verbal consent prior to visiting with any patient.
- Dogs will only be allowed on beds or in laps with patients if it has been approved by the nurse in advance. If approved, linens will need to be replaced.
- The handler will educate the patient and family about hand hygiene and recommend washing their hands after the visit.
- The handler will also offer hand sanitizer wipes to individuals who interact with the dog in public areas.
The dog will visit the following areas:
- Public or common areas
- Entryways, hallways, stairwells, and elevators
- Patient Rooms
- Clinical departments
- Waiting areas
The dog cannot visit the following areas:
- Food preparation areas
- Clean utility rooms
- Medication rooms
- Storage rooms
- Sterile areas
- Dining areas
- Patients on isolation
- Units with newborns
