Preparing for your admission

In case of a planned admission of one or more days to our hospital, it is best to discuss and arrange a number of things in advance. This will ensure that the necessary tests can be carried out and the physicians will have the results available on time. Our Pre-admission Department will guide you through this and complete your admission file.

What does the Pre-admission Department do?

Our Pre-admission Team will work with you to make the necessary administrative, informative and nursing preparations for your admission:

• Administration: All administration associated with the admission will be taken care of.
• Information: You will receive information about the type of operation, the admission procedure and the guidelines to follow. You will receive a welcome package with various information leaflets.
• Nursing: the nurse will chart your medical history and current health status based on the information you have provided. If necessary, the anaesthetist will request additional pre-operative tests. (S)he will review your pre-operative file at least 48 hours before the operation starts. If the results do not meet the expectations, the GP can still be contacted or additional tests can be requested.

Contact with our Pre-admission Team is through the pre-admissions desk. At Maria Middelares General Hospital, this can also be done digitally via the digital patient platform MyHospital.

Administrative

• identity card
• Name, address and telephone number of a person we can contact during your stay.
• Proof of hospitalisation insurance (Assurcard, DKV insurance card)
• Insurance forms in the event of an accident at work (policy)
• Guarantee declaration of foreign insurance
• Your registration card if you claim OCMW (social welfare)

Read more in the hospitalisation insurance leaflet about supplementary and foreign insurance.

Only available in Dutch:

Hospitalisatieverzekering AZ Maria Middelares

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Medical

Be sure to bring the following (if applicable):

• Documents that your attending physician gave to you prior to your admission
• Reimbursement certificates for medication
• Prescriptions for allergies or your diet

Informed Consent

If applicable, complete one of these documents and return it signed no later than the day of your surgery.

Only available in Dutch:

Geïnformeerde toestemming voor anesthesie

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Medication

Your home medication may be replaced by an identical drug that the hospital has in stock. The medication may have a different colour or shape, but it has the same effect. If you still have to take this medication when you return home, you can switch back to the medicine familiar to you. When you are discharged, your physician will give you clear guidelines about which home medication you should or should not continue taking.

It is important that your care providers know what medication you were taking at home (or shortly before your admission).

You will find the following items in the admissions information package that can be of help here.

1. Medication overview list / home medication: make sure it is completed fully and correctly. If necessary, ask your GP or pharmacist for help.
2. Paper medication bag (at St Vincent General Hospital in Deinze): put your medicines in their original packaging in the bag and bring it to the hospital.

On arrival at the ward, a nurse will go over the form with you. If you are allergic to certain drugs, please report this during this conversation.

The medication that you brought with you from home is kept at the nurse’s station. You will get it back when you are discharged from the hospital.

During your stay, you will receive medication from the hospital. Use your own medication only in consultation with your care provider. Bear in mind that certain combinations can have undesirable effects.

Personal

• Toiletries: towels, flannels, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, shaving items
• (Sleeping) attire, robe and closed shoes
• Good sports shoes if you are to take part in a course of rehabilitation
• Walking aids such as crutches, walker, walking stick... labelled with your last name and first name

Are you coming for a procedure or test? Please only bring with you what is absolutely necessary. Use a bag or suitcase that do not exceed the guidelines for hand baggage: maximum of 55x20x40 cm. That way you will be assured that your things will fit in a locker.

It is better to leave large sums of money and expensive items at home. The hospital is not liable for loss or theft. Jewels and other jewellery (e.g. piercings) are not allowed at the time of your admission for hygienic reasons. So please leave them at home.

• Maria Middelares General Hospital: if you have something valuable with you? Put your name on any possessions. You can store your valuables in a safe in your room. If it does not fit in the safe, we can deposit it in the hospital safe. They will be returned to you when you are discharged.
• St Vincent General Hospital in Deinze: in an emergency, you can use the hospital's safe to store valuable items during your admission.

You can choose from the following room types:

• room with four beds
• double room
• single room

The choice of room does not affect the quality of care. Please bear in mind that we may not be able to give you the room you asked for immediately due to lack of space.

The cost of the room (nursing day rate) is paid by the RIZIV (National Institute for Sickness and Disability Insurance). The patient remains responsible for co-payments and additional accommodation costs (the patient portion).

If you choose a single room, you will be charged a supplement. This choice of room may be associated with higher physicians' fees. A list with the maximum fee supplements per physician is available in the Admissions Department. Read more about the price of a room and fee supplements here.

On the day of your (pre)admission, you will sign an admission statement. It includes an overview of your personal contributions to the costs. Our staff will go over the admission statement with you. By signing these documents, you confirm that you agree to:

• Your choice of room
• The rates and your personal contributions;
• The financial terms of your admission.

Watch the video below for further explanations of signing your admission statement:

The general Welcome Leaflet will provide you with specific information, such as what you need to bring to the hospital, where you need to check in, etc.

Only available in Dutch:

Algemene onthaalbrochure AZ Maria Middelares

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Click on the button below for an overview of all Welcome Leaflets.

Are you admitted to Maria Middelares General Hospital or St Vincent General Hospital in Deinze for a procedure or examination with a short stay? If so, you may be taken to the discharge lounge soon after your procedure or examination, allowing you to go home sooner. If this is possible for you, your physician will discuss this with you beforehand.