Surgery Patients
If you or your family member is having surgery, the hospital and surgeon will take precautions to assure that everything is done correctly related to your surgery. The patient will be asked to assist us several times prior to the surgery to assure we have the correct person, correct site and correct procedure. If possible, the surgeon will mark the site of the surgery with his/her initials. Other precautions, such as cleaning the site prior to surgery as well a prepping the site after arrival in the operating room, will be done to help prevent possible infections.
Pain Management
We care about the way our patients feel and want them to be as comfortable as possible during their time in our care. Pain is a normal response of the body to injury or illness, but thanks to modern medicine, we can often control a patient’s pain. Patients have the following rights and responsibilities when it comes to pain management:
- To receive information about pain and measures to relieve pain
- To have caregivers who are concerned about your pain and are responsive to your reports of pain
- To receive state-of-the art pain management
- To be able to voice any questions or concerns you have about pain control
We expect you, as a patient of FirstHealth of the Carolinas, to:
- Talk about your pain to your caregivers
- Ask for pain relief when your pain first begins and whenever you have pain that you feel you cannot tolerate
- Discuss pain relief options with your caregivers
- Participate in developing a pain-management plan with your caregivers
The goal of pain control is simple – to lower your pain to a level that you can handle. You have a right to receive good pain management and should expect to have your pain lowered to a point that is comfortable and safe for you. The best way to talk to your caregivers about pain management is by telling:
WHERE it hurts
WHEN the pain started and how long it has lasted
WHAT makes the pain feel better
HOW it feels: Think about what your pain feels like and use words that best describe it to explain it to your caregivers. Here are some words that describe many different types of pain: dull, strong, sharp, throbbing, stabbing, gripping, squeezing, aching, etc.
Complex pain management conditions should be discussed with your doctor. Your doctor may refer you to a local specialist who is trained to evaluate and treat some of these conditions while avoiding the excessive use of medication.
Some medications for pain are associated with the possibility of addiction. If you believe you are currently dependent or addicted to a medication or substance, let your doctor know so that they can recommend appropriate intervention and support.
Palliative Care Team
Palliative Care is provided by a team of professionals dedicated to relieving suffering and improving quality of life for patients and families facing serious illness. Palliative Care is offered along with all other appropriate medical treatments. The focus is on the needs of the patient, whether those needs concern pain and symptom control, counseling, spiritual needs or coordinating links to other community services. When you or a loved one faces a serious illness, you may need the following:
- Symptom Management
- To achieve a sense of control
- To relieve burdens on your family
- To avoid prolonged suffering
- Input into medical decisions related to your goals of care
What is a Hospitalist?
The FirstHealth Hospitalist team is a group of doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants who specialize in internal medicine and caring for hospitalized patients. Together, these providers will manage your care and well-being while you are in our FirstHealth hospitals.
