Discharge

As you recover from your surgery, there may be a period of time when you are required to stay near the hospital and have frequent clinic visits. Once the care team feels it’s safe for you to return home and go to school or work, multiple steps will occur to ensure your safety. Your care team will explain the specific accomplishments you must achieve in order to be discharged

When should you call your care team?

Make sure to keep your care team up-to-date with any changes
  • Change in pump parameters, equipment issues, and alarms
  • Blood pressure outside your goal ranges
  • Changes in your diet
  • New medicines
  • Pain or bleeding
  • Fever
  • Changes to driveline sites
  • Red, pink, cola, or tea colored urine
  • Changes in your mood or anything else you feel uneasy about

Learn more about how to get ready to leave the hospital in the interactive below:

What should I tell my local emergency services? (Medical Services/Fire/Utilities)

Either you or your care team members should notify your local emergency medical department when you are discharged. It is nice for them to know you are at home with life-saving equipment. If you lose electricity, you must relocate to a new location. You can contact your care team if you have questions about what to do.

  • IMPORTANT: In the event that an emergency occurs, please tell the emergency medical services team you have a HVAD™ System.

Emergency Medical Safety Card 
Always carry your medical safety card with you in case of an emergency. If you don’t have a medical safety card, download and fill out the ACTION VAD Emergency Medical Safety Card below.