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Peer support services for patients, family members and caregivers is just one of the lesser known services available at many hospitals.
Hospitals play an important role in keeping people healthy. While hospitals remain the place to go when experiencing a medical emergency, these vital facilities offer much more than emergency care.
The scope of services available in many hospitals is vast and can benefit people confronting medical emergencies as well as individuals hoping to live as healthy as possible.
The following rundown of offerings can shed light on how beneficial it can be to look to hospitals as part of a health care regimen.
• Vaccination: Many people get vaccinated during wellness checkups or at local pharmacies.
But some patients are forced to wait months before they can book an appointment with their primary care physicians, while others may not live close to pharmacies.
In such instances, people can visit their local hospitals to determine if they provide vaccinations.
Many hospitals do, and that can help circumvent months-long waiting lists at primary care offices and issues related to pharmacies.
• Notary services: Advance directives and power-of-attorney arrangements are important components of estate planning.
When setting such directives, it's customary if not mandatory to have such wishes notarized so there is no legal gray area upon a person's death.
Many hospitals include notary services as part of their concierge care (some might include notary services under packages with different names).
These are vital guest assistance services and can be particularly useful if patients encounter a medical emergency and are unsure if they have formalized their intentions regarding their estate.
• Financial assistance: Health care costs can be substantial, particularly for people who experience a medical emergency and find themselves facing hefty bills related to their care.
Hospitals typically have trained financial assistance professionals on staff who can help patients and their families navigate the potential assistance available to them.
Options can include direct assistance in finding government support, charity care, billing support, and more.
Financial assistance staff may help patients and their families determine out-of-pocket costs, which is often a significant concern for people confronting a medical emergency.
• Wellness services: Hospitals also offer services to people who are not confronting medical emergencies.
Some facilities provide wellness services that emphasize preventive care like nutrition advice, dietary counseling and weight management support.
Such offerings also may include lifestyle education that can showcase strategies people can look to each day to get healthy and stay healthy.
• Language interpretation: Patients whose native tongue differs from that spoken at the hospital may be hesitant or intimidated when discussing their health and care with hospital officials.
But many hospitals provide language interpretation and translation services that can ease those concerns and ensure there is no disconnect between patients and their health care providers.
These services also can be utilized by people seeking advice on preventive care and healthy lifestyle choices.
• Peer support services: Many hospitals also offer peer support services to patients as well as family members.
These services may include routine support groups for survivors, caregivers, and others affected by a personal or family medical issue.
Hospitals are more than just places to go when feeling unwell.
The range of services available at many hospitals goes well beyond patient care.