Going Home
When your doctor decides you are ready to leave the hospital, he or she will write a discharge order. You may want to make arrangements with a family member or friend to help you when it’s time to go home. Some important things to remember:

Checkout Time
On most units, checkout time is 11 a.m. Please make every effort to leave by this time. If you cannot, please notify your nurse so alternate arrangements can be made. You may be billed for extra time in your room and this charge is not covered by most insurance plans.

Personal Belongings
Collect all of your belongings and double-check closets and drawers. If you have anything stored in the hospital safe, ask your nurse for assistance.

Discharge Instructions
Your doctor and your nurse will give you instructions about post-hospital care. If you have questions about your diet, activities, follow-up appointment with your physician or other matters, please ask.

Medications
You may be given new prescriptions by your doctor upon being discharged.  If you would like to have these prescriptions called into your pharmacy, please notify your nurse for assistance.

Patient Satisfaction Survey
Shortly after you have been released, you may receive, in the mail, a patient satisfaction survey.  Please take a moment to answer the questions and return the survey in the envelope provided.  We value your opinion and the information that is returned to us on these surveys is important to us.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

When you are ready to leave, a member of the hospital staff will bring you to the front entrance in a wheelchair and help you into the car.

There are occasions when patients need additional treatment or care after they are discharged from the hospital. To meet the special needs of these patients, Valley Regional Hospital offers a list of choices. Please contact the nurse or case manager for additional information and arrangements for these services:

Skilled Nursing Unit
The unit is designed for patients who no longer require acute care in a hospital but who need additional short-term care before discharge. Rehabilitation and specialized nursing care is available.

Home Health Care
Homecare services consist of nurses, nurse aides, medical case managers, homemakers, and therapists and are available in several New Hampshire counties. Connecticut Valley Home Care, a department of Valley Regional Hospital, is available to provide services, as one of your choices, at 543-6800.

Home Medical Equipment
There are several durable medical equipment companies in the community, which provide a wide range of medical equipment supplies and oxygen therapy equipment to patients in their homes.