When you’re hospitalized, the comfort of your room is essential for a healthy recovery. Architects are designing rooms that support staff workflow, provide an effective space for patients to recover and offer a pleasant and calming environment for visitors.
There are different types of rooms at hospitals, and some are shared with other people. Private rooms are usually more expensive than semi-private ones, but in Hong Kong, medical fees are linked to the class of room you stay in, and your health insurance provider might cover part or all of the costs of a private room. Check with your insurer and the hospital before you arrive about the fees and what options are available.
A typical hospital room is equipped with a bed, medical equipment and furniture, and a bathroom. The beds are typically adjustable to allow the patient to move freely and comfortably. They may also have features like alarms to alert the hospital staff if they wake up.
Hospitals may provide televisions, a phone, toiletries and other amenities in the rooms. Many also have a Continuous Ambient Relaxation Environment channel, which features soothing video scenes of nature with relaxing music. The channels are designed to help patients focus on their recovery, and they’ve been shown to improve patient outcomes.
The hospital provides a bed, medical equipment and furniture, but you should bring your own personal items, such as comfortable pajamas or slippers, a pillow, a sleeping mask and ear plugs, a water bottle, and snacks. You should also pack any medication you need, including pain relievers. If you have any special dietary requirements, you should bring those as well.
In addition to your personal items, you should bring a list of all your medications and their dosages. Your doctor will explain how to take your medicine, and the nurses will remind you of your medication schedule. You’ll need to sign a HIPAA form, which helps the hospital protect your privacy and your health information.
A clean and sanitary hospital room is key to preventing infections and a faster recovery. The hospital will wipe down all surfaces in your room with a disinfectant solution. The overbed table, call buttons and phones will also be cleaned. In addition, some hospitals will place a “do not use” strip over certain flat surfaces.
Your health is the most important factor in your recovery, but a good night’s sleep is essential to helping you feel better. Try to sleep as much as you can at night, especially after most of your visitors have left. If you have trouble falling asleep, ask your nurse for help and consider using a white noise machine or listening to soothing music. You can also use a sleeping aid, such as medication or melatonin.