Patient & Visitor Information

For Our Patients

Your Healthcare Be Involved

Keep Safe: Help contribute to your own health care

Safe, quality health care is a partnership between you and our dedicated health care team. You have an important role in your care.

Bring comfortable clothes to wear during your stay.
If you are in bed, wiggle your toes and move your arms and legs as much as you are able and according to your caregivers’ instructions.
To keep up your energy, drink fluids and eat food designed by our nutrition team.
Ask questions; become involved in your health care.
Know the name and purpose of every medication you are given.
Know the name and role of every person who enters your room.
Ask all staff and visitors who enter your room if they have washed their hands.
We will ask you questions to determine whether you may be at risk for falling down. We will teach you what you can do to prevent falls. Please call your nurse if you need help to get out of bed.
You will receive a name band. If you don’t receive your band, please tell your nurse immediately. Please wear your name band at all times. If it breaks or comes off, please tell your nurse.
You may also receive an allergy band if you need one.
You can expect to be asked to confirm your name and date of birth while you are with us. This is part of keeping you safe.

Your health care be involved

Speak up if you have any questions or concerns about your care. You are a key member of your health care team. We want you to come prepared for your medical treatment and to know what you should do when you return home. Write down your questions and ask your health care team. Please speak up if you have questions or concerns about any part of your care. If you do not speak English, request the services of an interpreter.
Tell a member of your health care team about your past illnesses and your current health conditions. Your health care team needs to know about ongoing illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease. Tell them if you have seen another doctor or received health care elsewhere and if you have had any surgeries and recent visits to hospital.
Bring all of your medications with you when you come to Trillium. Tell your health care team if you have ever had an allergic or bad reaction to any drugs, food or latex. We want to protect you against adverse reactions to drugs used during surgery and medications used before receiving certain diagnostic tests.
Make sure you know what to do when you leave Trillium. We are here for you. Please ask as many questions as you can to make sure you understand:
- What treatment you received
- Whether you will need a prescription filled
- What symptoms to watch for
- Who to call if something does not feel right
- What medications you must take, how and when to take them and what may be the possible side effects
- What foods you should eat and not eat
- When you can return to your normal activities – work, school, exercise and driving
- What follow-up appointment you will need and who will make them

Adapted from the Ontario Hospital Association Patient Safety support Service brochure entitled, “Your Health Care Be Involved.”

Safe medication use

You and your family are important partners with your health care team to ensure safe, effective medication use. Together, we can ensure you receive the correct medication and the correct dosage during your stay at Trillium. Please tell your health care team if you are obtaining prescriptions from more than one doctor. Bring all of your medications, in their original containers with you.

When you are admitted to Trillium:

Bring an accurate list of your medications that you are taking, including prescription, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary and herbal products
Your health care team needs the following information:

Name of medication
Dose of medication you are taking
Why you are taking it
The prescribing doctor

During your stay, know what medications you are taking. Ask:

The name of the medication you are given
Why you are taking it
The side effects and what you can do to prevent them
Whether the medication replaces any medications you were taking at home
Whether the medication is safe for you to take if you have allergies

Never use your own supply of medications while at Trillium without informing your health care team.

Before you leave Trillium

Your health care team will give you information about your medications. Ask:

What medications should you start taking
Why you are taking the medications
What medications should you continue taking
What medications you should stop taking
What medications you should take in different dosages
What are the side effects you should expect
How long should you take each medication
When and how should you take your medications
Should you be monitored with tests or by a physician while you are taking the medications

Patient and Visitor Information