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Welcome to The Ottawa Hospital
Your admission to The Ottawa Hospital has been arranged at the request of your physician who has privileges at The Ottawa Hospital. If your admission date has been set in advance, your physician will provide you with specific instructions in preparation for your admission.
There is a slight possibility that your scheduled surgery may be cancelled on the day due to emergency surgery cases or limited bed availability due to increased need at The Ottawa Hospital. If your procedure is cancelled, you will be notified by your physician or their delegate. We will do our very best to reschedule your surgical procedure as soon as possible.
If you are on the urgent waiting list, no specific admitting date will be given. You will be contacted by the hospital as soon as a bed is available and admitted the same day or the next day if you need to make special arrangements before coming to the hospital.
For more information
Civic Campus
Call your physician or the Admitting Department
613-798-5555 ext.13599
General Campus
Call your physician or the Admitting Department
613-737-8899 ext. 78200
Confirming admission and arrival time
If you are being admitted on the day of your surgery:
Call the Pre-Admission Unit one day before your surgery to confirm your arrival time at 613-761-4602 between 2 and 4 p.m.
The Admitting Department will call you the day before your surgery between 4 and 7 p.m. to confirm your admission time.
If you have not been contacted by 7 p.m., call 613-737-8200.
If you are being admitted the day before your surgery
Call the Admitting/Booking Department 613-761-4335 between 10 and 11 a.m. on the day of your admission to confirm the bed availability.
The Admitting Department will call you the morning of your admission to confirm your admission and arrival time.
If you have not been contacted by 1 p.m., please call 613-737-8200.
What to bring to the hospital
- Provincial health insurance card.
- Insurance information: Your personal insurance policy or your spouse’s that covers additional costs, such as private or semi-private rooms. The policy information required: policy/class/level, the address and the telephone number of the insurance company (not required if already provided when you pre-registered)
- WSIB file number and details (if applicable): For work-related accidents. Please also include some details regarding your accident.
- A credit card number: Before adding charges to your credit card for uninsured services, your insurance company and you will be billed first. Billing the credit card is the last recourse and it is only done with your consent.
- Living will or advanced directive: If you have prepared a document naming someone to speak on your behalf should you be unable to do so, or have a living will or an advance directive, please inform a member of your health-care team as soon as possible after your admission.
- Pajamas or a nightgown: The hospital provides blue patient gowns.
- Dressing gown/robe, slippers and underwear.
- Toiletries: Items can include a comb, hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, shampoo, shaving kit, etc.
- Miscellaneous items: Items can include eyeglasses and hearing aids.
Optional
- Battery-operated equipment, such as a razor.
- Electric hairdryers and similar accessories: All items must be less than 800 watts. Curling and flat irons are permitted, but you should not use them while in bed or alone in the room.
Do not bring
- Butane (or other gas-powered equipment) and electrical appliances.
- Jewellery: You will be asked to remove all jewellery including rings, chains, body piercings, etc.
- Small appliances: This includes coffee makers, fans, humidifiers, electrical hairdryers that use more than 800 watts, electric blankets, portable heaters.
- Any device where the plugs have been altered (ground prong removed) or damaged.
- Large sums of money, credit cards or valuable papers: If this is not possible, safety deposit boxes are available through Protective Services.
Medications
If you have brought medication (including prescription drugs, over the counter drugs and herbal products) that you are currently taking on a regular basis, please give it to the nurse or physician who admits you. A relative or friend may then return your medication to your home.
If this is not possible, the medication will be kept for you until you leave the hospital. Remember to ask for your medication when you are informed of your discharge. Unless directed by your physician, pharmacist or nurse, do not take any of your own medication while in hospital.
Valuables
The Ottawa Hospital is not responsible if your valuables are lost or stolen. Patients are encouraged to leave their personal items and electronics at home or with family and friends for safekeeping. You can use a safety deposit box in our Protective Services office to keep your valuables safe while you are in the Hospital. Please call the Protective Services office or ask a member of your health-care team.
Protective Services
613-761-4888 (Civic Campus)
613-737-8899 ext. 72003 (General Campus)
Discharge from the hospital
Please plan to leave the hospital by 10 a.m. on your discharge day
Keeping hospital beds for those who need them can help ensure that people can receive timely acute care when it’s needed the most.
The best and safest place to continue healing is usually at home or in the community with the right support. Our role is to help you move back into the community.
Patients are discharged when they no longer need the high level of care—known as acute care—that is offered at The Ottawa Hospital.
Our health-care teams of doctors, nurses and other health professionals work closely with our community partners, including Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS) to help create a plan that addresses your care needs when you leave the hospital.
Each inpatient unit has a designated social worker who will work with you and your family to help create your discharge plan and address your care needs.
Please ask to speak to the social worker as soon as possible if:
- You or your family have any concerns about your ability to return home.
- You feel you will need some additional help when you leave the hospital.
You and your family play a very important role in planning your discharge from hospital. Please try to keep any meetings you and your family have with your health-care team. We appreciate your cooperation, and we look forward to supporting you in your safe transition back into the community.