Duke Lung Transplant Friends
Lung Transplantation
A Guide for Caregivers
by
Wayne Bulla

                                             Disclaimer
This guide is in no way directly associated with DUMC, or its affiliates. It was written by a caregiver for caregivers for the sole purpose to better prepare them for this overwhelming experience.

Return Hospital Visits

v Take these items with you for each visit:
   o Pill Box
   o Control Book
   o Insulin Kit
   o Recent Hospital Discharge Orders (If available)

v Do not assume you will be admitted quickly (if you have to be admitted through the emergency room you can tell the receptionist if you can be placed in a room where the patient will not be exposed to the other patients waiting.  They are usually very accommodating as they are well aware of transplant immunosupression issues.

v Do not assume the medical staff will know your history, meds and daily regimen

v Medication List - When going into the hospital is is very helpful to have multiple copies of the patients current medication list.  This list should also include any recent changes in medications/dosages etc.

v Basic Medical History - This is especially helpful when going into the hospital.  If you have a computer, keep this current and print out multiple copies before going to the hospital.  Nurses, interns, residents, fellows and others will ask for your medical history.  This prevents errors and misunderstandings of what has happened to the patient.
Include the following in your medical history:
o Full Name, spouses name or emergecy contact
o City and State where you live
o Children; number of children
o Occupation
o Diagnosis leading to the lung transplant
o Date of Diagnosis leading to lung transplant
o Other medical problems/conditions/diseases
  o Date of Lung Transplant
o Drug Allergies
o All surgeries and dates of surgeries
o Dates/diagnosis of ALL hospitalizations
o List all other physicians the patients is followed by along with phone numbers/email addresses