After Your Stay

 

When you leave the hospital, you might need some additional care at home. For this reason, the University of Michigan Health System has several services dedicated to helping patients adjust to their health care needs after leaving the hospital.

If you are an inpatient, many of your care questions can be answered by your physician or your nurse. You can also obtain additional information by calling Practice Management Support at 734-764-0589.

Follow-up Appointments
After leaving the hospital, you or your family member may need to return to a University of Michigan Health System clinic for follow-up care. The physician will identify what appointments are needed. The unit clerical staff will schedule follow-up appointments for all Medical Center clinics, including tests and procedures. In most cases, all appointments will be made prior to your departure. Occasionally, we are unable to schedule these appointments in advance. In these instances, the appointments are made later and you are notified by mail and/or phone. You will receive written instructions about appointments needed, scheduled times, phone numbers and location. The date and time of your appointments are determined by clinic and physician schedules. The clerical staff consider your travel time and other scheduled appointments. If you are unable to keep an appointment, you may call the clinic, at the number provided, to reschedule.

Your follow-up appointment may or may not be with the physician you saw during your inpatient stay. The physician you see in the clinic will have your complete medical record and any instructions from your inpatient physician.

General Symptoms of Infection
In general, it is important to watch for signs and symptoms of infection so that any developing infection can be detected early and the right treatment started. General signs and symptoms of an infection might include a fever higher that 100.5 degrees, chills, pain, an ache or tenderness, general feeling of tiredness, and night sweats. If you have an infected wound or incision, you may also have redness, heat, swelling, pain or fluid that is white, yellowish or greenish coming from your wound. The proper treatment can be started quickly with early detection of infection. If you notice any of these symptoms, please call your health care provider.

Medications
When you leave the hospital, it may be necessary to have prescriptions filled. The Ambulatory Care Pharmacy can prepare these medications for you and either have them sent up to your room before you leave or have them ready for you to pick on your way out of the hospital. Having the hospital's pharmacy fill your prescriptions before you leave is often the best plan. Then if there are any changes or problems with the prescriptions, these can be addressed BEFORE you leave the hospital. In addition, sometimes medications, which you received in the hospital are difficult to find in a community pharmacy. In this case, the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy may be your only source for those medications.

If you want refills prepared by your local pharmacy, simply take your containers in to the pharmacy of your choice and request that the prescriptions be transferred. Your pharmacist will contact us and we will give them all the information over the phone they need to provide you with refills. The Ambulatory Care Pharmacy participates in Medicaid, Child Special Health, General Assistance, M-Care HMO, and most Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance programs. If you have charges or copays associated with your prescriptions, they will be billed to you at the time you leave the hospital. Payment is not expected at the time of service for patients being discharged from the hospital.

If you want to have your prescriptions filled at the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy before you leave, please let your nurse and physician know. They can be sure to have your prescriptions filled prior to your leaving.
If you have questions about this process or your medications, feel free to call the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy at 734-936-8260.

 

Continuing Care Services
Our Practice Management Support Services Office can coordinate your care, helping you or your family make arrangements for home care, medical equipment, infusion therapy, hospice care, nursing home placement, adult foster care, rehabilitation care, ambulance transportation and community support services. We will also help you determine what services are covered by your insurance company. Call 734-764-0589 Monday through Friday.

Orthotics and Prosthetics
Orthotics and Prosthetics provide specialists who construct, fit and maintain orthotic and prosthetic devices that are comfortable and meet your particular needs, as ordered by your doctor. Call the U-M Orthotics and Prosthetics Center at 734-973-2400.

Hospice Care
Hospice care is usually delivered at home or in a home-like setting to persons in the final phase of a terminal illness. It neither hastens nor postpones death, but affirms life, emphasizing quality, not length. Hospice empowers patients to live with dignity, alert and pain-free, while involving families and loved ones in giving care. Hospice provides medical, psychosocial, social, spiritual and volunteer services. Hospice is staffed by a health care team of doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, chaplains, volunteers and pharmacists. Bereavement care is also available. The hospice is covered by Medicare, and most Medicaid and private insurance programs.

For more information about hospice care in your area, please call the Hospice HelpLine at 800-658-8898.

Home Care
The University of Michigan Health System's home care division, Michigan Home Care Services, coordinates the care you may need at home. Michigan Home Care Services has five service units, each one emphasizing quality services and products that are delivered to you in your home. They are:

Michigan Visiting Nurses. If you have just given birth or are healing from a serious wound and need special attention, Michigan Visiting Nurses offers a wide range of services. Home nursing and therapy services range from personal care and assistance with activities of daily living to high-tech treatments. Michigan Visiting Nurses provide nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists, respiratory therapists, nutritionists, medical social workers and home health aides. In addition to traditional skilled nursing services and post-hospitalization follow-up, there are many specialty programs available such as those needing specialized wound care, cardiac care, rehabilitation services, and those needing IV therapies and chemotherapy.

To learn more about services provided by Michigan Visiting Nurses, call 734-677-1515 or toll-free at 800-842-5504 or tune to Channel 39 on your in-room television.

HomeMed
Infusion and pharmacy services are offered by HomeMed. Infusion products ordered by your physician, such as IV antibiotics, chemotherapy medications and nutritional supplements, are delivered to your home.

Home nursing support for infusion services, as well as nursing care for all your health care needs, are available. Arrangements for services range from intermittent visits to 24 hour support. Levels of service can range from helping you handle your household needs to high-tech nursing support such as ventilator care.

To learn more about services provided by HomeMed, call 734-971-2070 or toll-free at 800-862-2731.

Michigan House Calls
Michigan House Calls provides care to the chronically ill, patients who are under the care of multiple specialists and are having trouble complying with new medications and treatments. A physician can pull it all together in the comfort of the patient’s home, effectively evaluating the health status and capabilities of the patient and caregivers. Michigan House Calls can often catch health issues before they become emergencies.

To learn more about services provided by Michigan House Calls, call 734-677-1515 or toll-free at 800-842-5504

MedEquip
Home medical equipment is available through MedEquip. If your doctor orders oxygen, a hospital bed, a standard wheelchair or other medical equipment and supplies, MedEquip will deliver them to your home.

To learn more about services provided by MedEquip, call 734-971-0975 or toll-free at 800-530-0714


Wheelchair Seating Services
Custom wheelchair services are offered by the Wheelchair Seating Service through MedEquip. Using your doctor's specifications, customized wheelchairs are constructed to meet your special needs. This service is located at 2850 South Industrial, Suite 200, Ann Arbor.

To learn more about services provided by MedEquip, call 734-971-0975 or toll-free at 800-530-0714.

 

Call Michigan Home Care Services toll-free at 800-824-3814 for more information.