Admission to the Hospital

We know that a hospital stay can be a stressful time for you and your family. At Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare, we do whatever we can to make your overnight hospital stay as comfortable and as safe as possible.  In this section, you will learn more about how we support your stay at our sites.

You will need:

• Your Ontario Health Card
• All relevant private insurance information including the name, address and telephone number of your insurance provider and your insurance policy number.  Without extended health coverage you will be responsible for charges if you upgrade from a ward bed to semi-private or private accommodation.
• Documentation for your Substitute Decision Maker, Power of Attorney, and a living will if you have made one
• Written list of all prescription drugs and medications, and any over-the-counter medicines including herbal and natural medicines
• All current medications in their original containers (preferably in a zip-lock bag), including eye drops and inhalers. These medications will be returned to you when you are discharged.

What to bring:

• Toiletries - soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, shampoo, denture care supplies, shaving supplies, deodorant. (Please note that all of our sites are 'fragrance-free' so ensure your toiletries are free of scent.)
• Brush and comb
• Eyeglasses and cleaning cloth
• Facial tissues and feminine sanitary products
• Nail clippers and nail file
• Comfortable robe, pyjamas and slippers. Hospital gowns are provided but most people prefer to wear their own clothing.
• Loose, comfortable clothing such as sweat suits if you will be undergoing rehabilitation
• Magazines, books, pen and stationery
• Small amount of money, not more than $20
• Comfortable, non-slip walking shoes
• Personal aids such as walkers and wheelchairs

Do not bring:

• Valuables such as jewellery, large amounts of cash or credit cards, laptops and other personal electronic devices, etc.  If your admission is unexpected, please send your valuables home.
• Alcoholic beverages
• Small electric devices such as radios or fans can't be used until they are inspected and approved by the Maintenance Department.  Please tell a member of your health care team if you have brought a device with you.
• Flowers or plants

Please note MAHC is not responsible for lost or stolen items or damaged valuables.

Accommodations

One of the ways to keep patients safe is to assign you a bed as soon as possible and limit the number of times you are moved.  This means we place you in the first available bed based on your clinical needs before giving preference to gender.  This means it is not always possible to admit you to your preferred type of room with others of the same gender.  Learn more about the factors that impact patient placement decisions in our information handout.  From time to time patients may be moved between MAHC’s two sites to accommodate the care of all patients.

Our patient rooms can accommodate one person (private room); two people (semi-private room) or four people (shared ward room).  Although we do our best to admit you to your preferred type of room, it is not always possible.  Please note there are additional fees charged when semi-private and private room accommodation is requested.  These fees may be covered through your insurance policy.  Please check at the time of your hospital admission. 

Nursing Call System

Each hospital bed has a nursing call system for your safety and convenience.  A call button is found on a cord attached to your bed.  When you push the button, a light will turn on over your bed and at the nursing station to show you need help.  A nurse will respond to your call, or you will be reached by intercom, with personal assistance as soon as possible.

Patient Meals

Most of the meals served at MAHC are prepared in our own kitchens at our sites in Huntsville and Bracebridge.  Menus are based on Canada's Food Guide and individual nutritional needs or restrictions.  Meal service is personalized and patient focused through menu selection at the patient bedside.  On a daily basis, patients select their preferred entrée, dessert, soup or salad at lunch and suppertime from a list of menu options.

Meals are served as follows:

• Breakfast 8:00 to 8:30 a.m.;
• Lunch 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.;
• Dinner 4:45 to 5:15 p.m.

Family members and visitors of patients may also request a meal from our patient menu for a nominal fee.  The meal is served in the patient's room during meal times.  Please ask for more details about this service. 

Food Brought From Home for Patients

Sometimes families and friends also wish to bring in food for patients.  We support this at MAHC, and want to ensure that all food served to patients is safe in accordance with best practice food regulations that reduce the risk of food poisoning or other food-related issues.  Please check with the nurse first to ensure that all food and beverage received by a patient fits with the doctor’s diet order.

• All perishable food should go immediately into a patient fridge.  Exception: hot foods brought for immediate consumption.
• Please alert Nursing or Dietary staff to any food you bring in.  Use the provided adhesive labels to indicate the following on any perishable food items to be stored in the fridge:

1. Patient’s name
2. Food item
3. Date prepared

• Unlabeled items, or food left in the fridge longer than three (3) days will be discarded. 
• Any food that has entered a patient’s room cannot be stored in the unit fridge.  Once food has entered the patient’s room, all leftovers must be thrown out.

Clinical Nutrition

Our Registered Dietitians provide a Clinical Nutrition service to inpatients and outpatients.