Be prepared for your visit by knowing what to bring, and what to leave at home, for your clinic appointment or hospital stay.
Clinic Appointments (Outpatient Care):
What to bring
- Health card
- List of medications you are taking
- Any instructions provided by your physician’s office, as well as the physician’s name and clinic name
- A friend or family member for support and if you need help getting to and from the hospital
- Money or credit card for parking and other items, if needed
- A list of questions
Please Note: Individual clinics may have specific requirements or recommendations. If you know the name of the clinic you’re attending, please search the Programs and Services menu for the specific clinic site and review the clinic information.
Hospital Stay (Inpatient Care):
What to bring
- Health card
- Supplementary insurance information
- CareWish document (May include Advanced Directive for Personal Care, Living Will, Power of Attorney, etc.)
- Personal toiletries (e.g. toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, brush, menstrual care products, shaving supplies, facial tissue, soap, shampoo, denture cup, hearing aid batteries, sleepwear and slippers)
- Eyeglasses and other aids such as walkers, if required
- All medications you are currently taking, including non-prescription and over-the-counter medications. Please see below for instructions on creating a medication list.
- Small amount of money for incidentals
- Your personal device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, for entertainment. Please also consider bringing accessories such as headphones and chargers.
What not to bring
- Valuables (e.g. jewelry, credit cards, large amounts of money) should be left at home. If you do bring them to the hospital, they should be sent home with family or friends. If this is not possible, valuables should be deposited in the Business Office for safekeeping. You can pick up your valuables from the Business Office during business hours.
- Electrical appliances (in accordance with hospital electrical and fire safety standards). The use of your own electrical appliances, except electric razors, is forbidden within the hospital.
- Perfumes and other fragrances. Please do not use any scented products, such as perfume, cologne, aftershave, or richly scented body sprays, lotions, or powders, hair sprays, gels, mousse, hair conditioners or shampoos, or deodorants during your stay at LHSC, and ask your visitors to do the same.
- Non-essential items. Clutter can present a trip and fall hazard. While we want you to be comfortable during your hospital stay, excessive personal items may be sent home with your visitors.
Medication Information
When you come to the hospital, please bring a complete list of the medications you take at home or bring the medications themselves. Sharing this information helps your care team provide the safest care possible. Be sure to include:
- Prescription medications
- Over-the-counter medications (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen)
- Herbal or natural health products
- Alcohol or recreational drugs
How to create a medication list
- Indicate your name, address, phone number, date of birth, and any allergies.
- Indicate your family physician, pharmacy name and pharmacy phone number.
- List all prescription medications. Include the date you started taking the medication, the name of medication, the dose, as well as when and how you take the medication.
- Do the same for all non-prescription medications.
- Update your list when changes are made. Cross off medications you are no longer taking and add new medications when they are prescribed. Record the date when changes occurred.
Medications prescribed and approved for use at LHSC will be supplied while in hospital. Before you leave the hospital, make sure you understand why and how to take all medications you started while in hospital.
