Resources / Emergencies and after a death
What the hospital needs in an emergency: a checklist
When a parent or partner is suddenly in the hospital, staff and family need a few specific things fast. Get this ready now, so the 2am version of you is not searching for it.
Identity and coverage
- Photo ID
- Insurance and Medicare cards
- A list of current doctors
- Preferred hospital or pharmacy
Medical
- Current medications and doses
- Allergies
- Medical conditions and history
- Recent surgeries or implanted devices
Legal and decisions
- Advance directive / living will
- Healthcare power of attorney
- DNR order, if there is one
- Who to call to make decisions
Practical
- Emergency contacts
- Phone charger and some cash
- Glasses, hearing aids, mobility aids
- House keys and a pet care plan
Keep a copy that is reachable, not just filed. An advance directive locked in a drawer at home does not help in the emergency room. Keep a copy someone can pull up quickly, on a phone or shared with a trusted person.
Printed and kept where you will see it, this does its job. If you would rather it live somewhere your whole family can reach, that is what MyLifePapers is for.
Common questions
What is the single most important item to have ready?
The current medication list, with doses. It is the thing hospital staff ask for first and the thing families most often cannot recall under stress. A photo of the pill bottles counts. The healthcare power of attorney is a close second, since it says who can make decisions.