Staying in the Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Being admitted to the hospital in Grand Rapids may be planned (for surgery or tests) or may happen suddenly after an accident or illness. Whether you are going to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, Mercy Health, or another local facility, being prepared can make your stay safer and less stressful.

In Grand Rapids, where winters are cold and roads can be icy, planning ahead is especially important for safe travel to and from the hospital and for your recovery at home.

Planning for Your Hospital Stay in Grand Rapids

Stay as Healthy as Possible Before Admission

Before you go into the hospital:

  • Eat healthy, balanced meals
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Limit alcohol
  • Avoid or reduce smoking
  • Get enough sleep and rest

If you become sick (for example, with a cold, flu, or COVID‑19 symptoms) in the days before your planned admission, call the hospital’s pre-admission or surgical scheduling team. Your surgery or procedure at a Grand Rapids hospital may need to be delayed for your safety.

Talk With Your Employer

As soon as your surgery or hospital stay is booked:

  • Let your employer know the dates you expect to be off work
  • Explain any limits you may have after discharge (for example, no heavy lifting for several weeks)
  • Discuss temporary changes to your duties or the need for a replacement while you recover

This is especially important for people in physically demanding jobs common in West Michigan, such as manufacturing, construction, or healthcare.

Ask Your Doctor Questions Before You Go

Before you are admitted to a Grand Rapids hospital, make sure you understand:

  • Why am I going to the hospital?
  • What treatment or surgery am I having?
  • What are the possible risks, side effects, or complications?
  • How long will I be in the hospital?
  • How long will it take me to recover?
  • What kind of help will I need at home afterward?

Write your questions down and bring them to your appointment with your primary care provider or specialist. Many Grand Rapids clinics (Spectrum Health Medical Group, Trinity Health Medical Group, Metro Health clinics) offer patient portals where you can send questions in advance.

Managing Home, Family, and Daily Life While You Are in the Hospital

Arrange Care for Family, Pets, and Home

Depending on how long you will be in the hospital, you may need to ask a friend, family member, or neighbor to:

  • Look after your children or other people you care for (such as an older parent or a person with a disability)
  • Care for pets
  • Water plants
  • Collect mail and packages
  • Take out trash and recycling
  • Pay urgent bills

If you live alone in Grand Rapids or in nearby communities like Wyoming, Kentwood, or Walker, consider asking someone you trust to check on your home, especially during winter months.

Prepare Meals Before You Go

Before your hospital stay:

  • Cook and freeze several meals, or
  • Buy healthy frozen meals and store them in your freezer

This will help you conserve energy when you return home. Family, friends, or local community groups and churches in Grand Rapids may also offer to bring meals while you recover.

If you must cook for yourself when you get home:

  • Keep your most-used food items and cooking tools together
  • Store items at a height where you don’t have to bend or reach too much
  • Avoid lifting heavy pots or pans during early recovery

Medication and What to Bring to a Grand Rapids Hospital

Bring All Your Medications

When you go into the hospital, take:

  • All prescription medications in their original bottles
  • Any over-the-counter medicines you use regularly
  • Vitamins and herbal supplements

Also bring a written list that includes:

  • The name of each medication
  • The dose and how often you take it
  • Why you take it

Some medications and supplements can affect surgery, anesthesia, or other treatments. Your Grand Rapids doctor or pharmacist may ask you to stop certain medications before your procedure.

What to Pack for Your Hospital Stay

Hospital rooms in Grand Rapids facilities don’t have much storage space, so bring only what you truly need:

Personal items:

  • Comfortable pajamas or sleepwear
  • Loose, comfortable clothing for going home
  • Underwear and socks
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush/comb
  • Deodorant and razor
  • Eyeglasses, hearing aids, or dentures (with storage cases)

Useful items:

  • A small notebook and pen to write down instructions and questions
  • A list of important phone numbers (family, primary care doctor, pharmacy)
  • Books, magazines, or quiet activities
  • Mobile phone or tablet and charger
  • Healthy, non-perishable snacks (if allowed by the hospital)

Important documents and cards:

  • Photo ID (driver’s license or state ID)
  • Insurance card(s)
  • Medicare/Medicaid card if you have one
  • Veterans’ Affairs card if applicable
  • Any hospital forms or paperwork you were asked to complete
  • A list of allergies and medical conditions

Do NOT bring:

  • Alcohol or illegal substances
  • Large amounts of cash
  • Expensive jewelry, watches, or valuables
  • Too much clothing or luggage

If you are unsure what to bring, call the admissions department at your Grand Rapids hospital and ask for their recommended packing list.

Getting to the Hospital in Grand Rapids

Plan Your Transportation

Think ahead about how you will get to the hospital:

  • Drive yourself and arrange parking
  • Ask a family member or friend for a ride
  • Use a taxi or rideshare service
  • Use public transportation (The Rapid bus system) if appropriate

Give yourself extra time, especially:

  • During winter months when roads may be snowy or icy
  • During morning or afternoon rush hour in downtown Grand Rapids

For surgery or procedures involving anesthesia, you will usually NOT be allowed to drive yourself home. Arrange for a responsible adult to:

  • Take you to the hospital
  • Pick you up afterward
  • Stay with you for at least the first 24 hours if advised

Confirm Your Appointment

Call the hospital the day before (or as instructed) to:

  • Confirm your admission time
  • Confirm when you should stop eating and drinking
  • Ask where to park and which entrance to use

Using Your Support Network

Emotional and Practical Support

Many people feel less anxious when a family member or close friend is with them on the day of surgery or a major procedure. If you want this support:

  • Ask your support person as early as possible
  • Make sure they know what time to arrive and where to go
  • Check visiting policies for your Grand Rapids hospital (hours, visitor limits, COVID‑19 rules)

Tell your family and close friends that you are going into the hospital. Choose one person to be your main contact. Ask other friends and relatives to get updates through that person so you are not overwhelmed with calls and messages during your recovery.

Talk About Your Wishes

Choose a trusted family member, friend, or caregiver and discuss your wishes in case something unexpected happens. This may include:

  • Who you want to care for your children or dependents
  • Who you would like to make medical decisions if you cannot speak for yourself
  • What treatments you would or would not want
  • Whether you wish to be an organ donor

In Michigan, you can complete:

  • A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (to name a patient advocate)
  • An Advance Directive or Living Will

Let your main contact know where important papers are stored and discuss your choices with your Grand Rapids primary care doctor.

Planning Your Discharge From a Grand Rapids Hospital

Start Discharge Planning Early

Discharge (or “transfer of care”) planning should begin soon after you are admitted. Your healthcare team will work with you to create a plan for:

  • Leaving the hospital safely
  • Recovering at home
  • Getting any follow-up care you need

Before you go home, talk with your:

  • Hospital doctor
  • Nurses
  • Pharmacist
  • Physical or occupational therapist (if involved)
  • Social worker or case manager

Understand Your Discharge Instructions

Before you leave the hospital, make sure you clearly understand:

  • What you need to do before going home (tests, equipment, prescriptions)
  • What you need to do at home to recover, such as:
    • Specific exercises or physical therapy
    • Activity limits (no driving, no heavy lifting, no climbing stairs)
    • Wound care and dressing changes
    • How much fluid to drink
    • When and how to take your medications

Ask as many questions as you need. Take notes or ask a family member to write things down. Many Grand Rapids hospitals also provide written discharge instructions and may upload them to your patient portal.

Activities and Warning Signs

Ask your healthcare professional:

  • When can I safely drive again?
  • When can I bathe or shower?
  • Can I climb stairs?
  • When can I return to work or school?
  • When can I resume exercise or sports?

Also ask what warning signs mean you should:

  • Call your doctor
  • Call 911
  • Return to the emergency department

Examples of warning signs include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Worsening pain that is not controlled by medication
  • Redness, swelling, or drainage at your incision site
  • Shortness of breath or chest pain
  • Sudden weakness, confusion, or severe headache

Follow-Up Appointments and Payments

Scheduling Follow-Up Care

Before leaving the hospital, ask:

  • Which follow-up appointments you need (primary care, surgeon, specialist, physical therapy)
  • Whether the hospital will schedule them for you or if you should call
  • If any lab work, imaging, or tests are needed

Record appointment dates and any special instructions (for example, fasting before a blood test) in your phone or calendar.

Forms, Bills, and Insurance

Before discharge, make sure to:

  • Complete all necessary forms and documents
  • Pick up prescription medications from the hospital pharmacy or your local Grand Rapids pharmacy
  • Ask which services or items are covered by your insurance and which are not

You may need to pay for:

  • Non-emergency ambulance or medical transport you request
  • Certain medical equipment for home use
  • Pay TV, upgraded internet access, or non-local phone calls

If you have questions, speak with the hospital’s billing office or patient financial services.

Medication Safety When You Leave the Hospital

Know Your Medications

Before you go home, ask hospital staff to review your medications with you. Make sure you know:

  • The name of each medication
  • What it is for
  • How much to take and how often
  • How long you should take it
  • Whether you should still take any medications, vitamins, or supplements you used before admission
  • Possible side effects and what to do if they occur

Write down the name and phone number of a person you can call (your doctor, clinic, or hospital pharmacist) if you have questions about your medications after you get home.

Getting Home and Home Support in Grand Rapids

Arrange Transportation Home

Plan your ride home before discharge:

  • Ask a family member or friend to pick you up
  • If needed, ask the hospital social worker about non-emergency medical transport options in the Grand Rapids area

You may feel tired, weak, or groggy when you leave the hospital, especially after surgery or anesthesia. You should not drive yourself home.

Home Help and Community Services

After you return home, you may not be able to:

  • Cook
  • Clean
  • Do laundry
  • Shop for groceries

Talk with your hospital social worker or case manager about services in the Grand Rapids and Kent County area, such as:

  • Home nursing visits
  • Home health aides
  • Physical or occupational therapy at home
  • Meal delivery programs
  • Transportation assistance

Local resources that may help coordinate services include:

  • Kent County Health Department
  • Grand Rapids Public Health programs
  • Community organizations, churches, and senior services

Your hospital may also refer you to a post-acute care or home health program, where a team of healthcare professionals visits you regularly to monitor your recovery.

If you will spend a lot of time in bed:

  • Keep your phone nearby
  • Post your doctor’s number and emergency contacts in an easy-to-see place
  • Keep water, medications, and important items within reach

Going Home After Having a Baby in Grand Rapids

Before you and your baby leave the hospital, talk with your healthcare team or midwife about:

  • Breastfeeding and how to know your baby is getting enough milk
  • Expressing and storing breast milk if needed
  • Formula feeding, including how to safely prepare and sterilize bottles
  • How often to feed your baby
  • Changing diapers and bathing your baby
  • Safe sleep practices
  • Exercises for your back and pelvic floor
  • Signs of postnatal depression and when to seek help
  • How to take care of yourself as well as your baby

Ask about:

  • Local lactation consultants and breastfeeding support groups
  • Parenting and newborn classes in Grand Rapids
  • Home visit programs for new parents available through Kent County Health Department or local health systems

Car Seat Safety in Michigan

Before you leave the hospital:

  • Make sure you have a properly fitted, Michigan-approved infant car seat
  • It is a legal requirement that your baby travels in an appropriate child safety seat

In West Michigan, several organizations and fire/police departments host car seat inspection stations or events. Ask your hospital, pediatrician, or the Kent County Health Department for a list of local car seat inspection sites to help ensure your baby’s seat is installed correctly.

If You Don’t Feel Ready to Leave the Hospital

You may feel unsure or anxious when your healthcare team says it is time to go home. You might not feel physically or emotionally ready.

  • Talk with your doctor, nurse, or hospital social worker about your concerns
  • Ask if additional support or services can be arranged to help you transition safely home
  • Discuss whether a short stay in a rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility is appropriate if you need more intensive care than you can receive at home

You have the right to refuse treatment and to leave the hospital at any time. However, if your healthcare professional believes you need hospital-level care, carefully consider this advice before deciding. In some cases, you and your team can work out a plan that allows you to return home safely with extra support.

When Recovery Is Not Going as Planned

If you are at home and:

  • Feel more unwell
  • Notice new or worsening symptoms
  • Feel that your recovery is not progressing as expected

Review your discharge instructions and follow the guidance on who to call and when. Contact:

  • Your primary care doctor or clinic
  • Your surgeon or specialist
  • The on-call provider listed in your discharge papers

For urgent or emergency warning signs (such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, sudden numbness or weakness, or severe bleeding), call 911 immediately.

Providing Feedback About Your Care in Grand Rapids

If you want to provide feedback about your care before you leave the hospital:

  • Speak with the nurse in charge of your unit or ward
  • Ask to speak with the hospital’s patient advocate or patient relations office if you have concerns or complaints

Your feedback helps Grand Rapids hospitals and clinics improve the quality and safety of care for all patients.

Local Help and Resources in Grand Rapids, Michigan

For ongoing care and support after your hospital stay, consider:

  • Your local primary care doctor or clinic
  • Hospital-affiliated outpatient clinics (Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health)
  • Kent County Health Department for community health programs and referrals
  • Grand Rapids Public Health programs for preventive and community-based services

Key Points

  • Some medications and supplements can affect your hospital treatment or surgery; your doctor may ask you to stop certain medications.
  • Writing down instructions and questions can help you remember important information about your hospital stay and recovery.
  • After having a baby, caring for yourself is just as important as caring for your newborn; ask about local support services in Grand Rapids.
  • You have the right to refuse treatment and leave the hospital at any time, but always weigh this against your healthcare professional’s advice about the care you need.