Planning Your Visit

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For Patients

Patients are encouraged to bring the following:

  • A copy of your advance directive
  • Any papers provided by your doctor
  • Insurance card
  • Photo identification
  • Legal guardian papers if the patient is a child and you are a legal guardian. (If you are not the biological parent of the child, you must have papers that document your legal right to give consent for the procedure or anesthesia.)
  • A list of medications and doses. If this is confusing, bring the medications with you and our associates can assist you.
  • A list of your allergies
  • Referral and/or authorization forms provided by your physician or insurance company

What to leave at home:

  • Jewelry
  • Large amounts of money or other valuable items
  • Tobacco products (IU Hospital is a smoke-free campus)
  • Pagers and cellular phones
  • Electronics (stereos, VCRs or DVD players)

Speak Up

Speak Up is a nationwide program spearheaded by The Joint Commission, a hospital accrediting body. It represents the importance of teaching patients to get involved in their health care and help prevent errors. The more active, involved and informed patients are, the better their health care experience is likely to be.

Speak Up informational booklets are available to patients from our health care team and in various public areas throughout Indiana University Health University Hospital. The booklets describe specific actions that patients can take to be more aware and participate more fully in their health care decisions during a hospitalization.

S - Speak Up if you have questions or concerns. If you do not understand, ask again. You have a right to know.

P - Pay Attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you are getting the right treatments and medicines. Do not assume anything.

E - Educate yourself about your condition, tests and treatment.

A - Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.

K - Know what medicines you take and why you take them. Medicine errors are the most common health care errors.

U - Use hospitals, clinics, surgery centers or other types of health care agencies that meet quality and safety standards.

P - Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.