Leaving the Hospital
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The length of time patients stay in the hospital following surgery has changed dramatically during the past few years. With advances in surgical procedures, better medications, and new understanding of the recuperative process, patients now stay in the hospital for shorter lengths of time.
Patients should expect to stay in the hospital only as long as med-ically necessary and to spend most of their recovery days at home. This is good news not only because it speeds your return to your everyday world, but it also keeps down the cost of your health care.
Your doctor has the responsibility of deciding how long it is medically necessary for you to stay in the hospital. Insurance companies also have guidelines about how long you can stay, so check with them before your surgery. The doctor will not discharge you from the hospital until he evaluates you as medically stable. If you live a distance from the hospital and do not believe you will be ready for travel at the time of your anticipated discharge, you may ask a hospital social worker to help you find your own in-town lodging.
The following are guidelines for average stays in the hospital for patients undergoing the following surgical procedures:
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anterior cervical fusion
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possible outpatient/1 day
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posterior cervical laminectomy
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possible outpatient/1 day
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lumbar laminectomy
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possible outpatient/1 day
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decompressive cervical laminectomy
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1 to 3 days
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decompressive lumbar laminectomy
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1 to 2 days
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lumbar fusion
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1 to 2 days
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carotid endarterectomy
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2 days
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craniotomy
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variable
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carpal tunnel release
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outpatient
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ulnar nerve release
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outpatient
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About 90% of patients will find their stays in the hospital fall within these ranges. In mid 1996, we began providing selected patients the opportunity to receive laminectomies on an outpatient basis and may offer other surgeries on an outpatient basis in the future.
Planning to Leave the Hospital
We hope the guidelines on the opposite side of this page and the doc-tor’s instructions will help you anticipate when you will leave the hospital. It is your responsibility to plan ahead for your discharge from the hospital. Matters you should plan for include arranging:
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for someone to pick you up from the hospital on the discharge day, which sometimes is on a weekend day
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how you will be transported: car, medivan, etc.
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for the hospital social worker to help you find in-town lodging, if you need it
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for home health or nursing care, if you need it, with the help of the nursing staff and the hospital social worker
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for someone to stay with you, if necessary
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how your meals will be prepared, if you need such assistance
Making timely plans for your discharge from the hospital makes the transition much smoother for yourself and for your family and friends.
Conclusion
The staff and the physicians hope this Patient HelpBook answers some of your questions. Please be sure to call the office if you have any further questions or if you experience problems.
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