Before your admission to Westchester Medical Center, your physician will help you arrange for any pre-operative testing and advise you of any specific items you may need or precautions you should take before your admittance. Regardless of the type of procedure you are undergoing, there are general guidelines you should follow to make your stay as worry-free as possible.

Personal Belongings and Valuables

Space for storing personal belongings is limited, and Westchester Medical Center is not responsible for patients' personal items. Avoid possible loss or theft by packing as lightly as possible and leaving valuable items at home.

Personal Items: Pack lightly, bringing only a few basic items such as pajamas or nightgowns, a bathrobe, slippers, personal hygiene items and reading materials.
Telephone service and/or television rental: Please bring cash, a personal check or major credit card to cover the cost of these services. Bring only a few dollars in change for purchasing newspapers and other incidental items.
Valuables: Please leave items such as jewelry, cameras or audio equipment at home.
Appliances: Per New York State regulations and our own safety policies, plug-in electrical appliances such as radios, hair dryers, razors or personal television sets are prohibited.

Pre-operative Testing

For many patients, pre-operative testing is necessary before any procedures can be performed. These tests are necessary to determine if there are any health risks in your specific case which may necessitate cancelling a procedure until those risks are resolved if possible. Your physician will inform you of the tests needed and in many cases, will help to arrange testing. It is important that you take these tests, as they may reveal important information that is vital to your health and safety.

Insurance and Pre-Approval

In most cases, your physician's office will arrange for pre-authorization for your procedure so it is covered by insurance. They will convey the clinical information needed by your insurance company to obtain approval and in some cases, will advocate for approval if it is initially denied. Occasionally, you may be responsible for making pre-approval arrangements yourself and you will need to check with your individual insurance to determine what information they need.

Healthcare Proxy

If you are designating someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf, be sure to complete a Healthcare Proxy Form and bring it with you to admission.