Ready to go home? Preparing to go home can be exciting, but also requires some planning, just as you did before your stay. Here are a few tips to remember before you leave the hospital:

• Ask for written instructions from your child's doctor or nurse on anything from medications and diet restrictions to wound care and allowed activities
• Ask if you need to schedule follow-up appointments with either the specialist or your regular pediatrician.
• Remember to pack written prescriptions or provide the nurse or your physician with the name, address and fax number of your family's pharmacy. It is important to have those medicines filled and give them to your child as directed.
• Finally, pack your bags with everything you brought from home and any additional bandages or dressings given to you by the hospital. Make one final check in the room, including all drawers and the bathroom, so you don't leave anything.
• Have a final consultation with one of our medical social workers from the Case Management department before you depart. The Social Workers can help you find area resources, local support groups, or assist with other needs for your return home. Often, they provide much needed information while acting as a liaison between you, the medical team, and insurance companies. Visit their local resources online.

Be sure to follow up with your pediatrician after your hospital stay. Listed below are affiliated pediatric clinics and a link to their respective web sites.

• Cabarrus Pediatric Clinic
• Piedmont Pediatric Clinic
• Suburban Pediatric Clinic, Inc.
• Weddington Internal Medicine & Pediatrics

Should you need to contact one of your nurses or physicians to ask questions after you return home, please contact us at our main number, (704) 403-1275.

» Visit the Pediatric Pavilion online