Patient belongings: Keeping your personal items safe

Storage space in patient rooms is limited. A robe and slippers are necessary for all patients. Hospital gowns are provided. We suggest that clothing worn to the hospital be sent home with family/friends and that appropriate clothing be brought to the hospital shortly before patient discharge.

Patients are asked if they wear dentures or bridges and, if so, a staff member will provide a denture cup to store them in when not in use. The cup will be labeled with the patient's name. Please avoid placing dentures on a meal tray, under a pillow, on the sheets or in any concealed place where they may be lost or accidentally thrown out.

Hearing aids should be kept in the original case provided upon purchase. If the original case is not available, nursing staff will provide a container labeled with patient name to store the aids in when not in use. Do not leave aids unprotected on the bedside or over-bed table.

Glasses are best secured in a case with patient name on it when not in use. To prevent loss or damage to eyeglasses during hospitalization, patients are asked not to leave them unprotected on the bedside table, in a robe pocket or on the bed.

Please put your name on all necessary items that are brought to the hospital including wheelchairs, walkers, and canes.

Please leave all valuables at home or send them home with a family member or friend upon admission to the hospital; this includes jewelry, watch, cash, and credit cards, wallet, purse, camera, cell phone, laptop, or any other item that would be considered a loss if misplaced. Patients move about during a hospital admission for procedures and treatments or from one inpatient unit to another due to medical condition. If family members are not present, valuable items should be given to the nursing staff to be secured in a valuables envelope and locked in the safe. They are not to be kept at the bedside. A receipt will be provided for collection of the items upon discharge.

Bring a current list to the hospital of medications the patient is taking. This includes herbal and over the counter medications as well as prescription medications. If a list is not available, bring in the medication containers for the pharmacist to view. The containers can then be taken home by a family member or friend or stored by the pharmacy, for retrieval prior to discharge. Medications brought in from home are not to be stored at the bedside.

To inquire about lost items at University Hospital or American Family Children's Hospital, please contact Guest Services at (608) 504-4892.

To inquire about lost items at East Madison Hospital, please contact (608) 440-6242.

To file a lost items report, please contact the Patient Relations department at (608) 263-8009.