Being in the hospital can be a frightening experience for anyone. For polio survivors, planning in advance for hospitalizations and unforeseen emergencies is especially important.
A person who has lived with a significant disability for a long time is frequently the most qualified in managing his/her own needs for functioning and general day-to-day care. Hospital personnel should respect this expertise and be flexible and creative in adapting their medical procedures and skills to accommodate these needs. For example, survivors should present a list of medications to avoid, or request use of their home mechanical ventilation equipment.
Maximizing an individual’s safety and comfort during a hospital stay is essential. To be prepared, discuss hospital arrangements with a primary care physician and/or a treating specialist prior to admittance and preferably when the polio survivor is well. Issues to consider include:
- Specifying an individual who can act as an advocate when one cannot advocate for oneself. This is ideally accomplished by legally designating your advocate as possessing your “Durable Power of Attorney for Medical Care” (often called a durable power of attorney for medical care).
- Discussing in advance with family/friends one’s desire regarding what treatments the person wants and does not want as well as documenting them in a “living will” or “advance directives.”
- Allowing attendants or family members, if they choose, to continue their routine care during hospitalizations. This may also require that they stay in the same room.
- Informing staff of the individual’s functional limitations due to prior polio along with instructions as to how one routinely functions, e.g., uses night-time ventilation; can walk only with a brace; cannot lie on right side, etc. Request that this information be inserted in the hospital chart. It can also be useful to have the information posted in the patient’s room in a prominent location, such as the medical whiteboard in each room, that all staff can easily see.
- Scheduling a face-to-face discussion with the anesthesiologist several days prior to any surgery (see Anesthesia).
- Remobilizing, in the customary way, as soon as possible to curtail disuse weakness.
For further reading on this topic, see Post-Polio Health Care Considerations for Families and Friends.