Describe Symptoms
A physical exam and medical tests give us important information about your health. How you describe symptoms and pain, if there is any, can be the key to your diagnosis and treatment.

Try to remember when your symptoms or pain started, what time of day they occur, how long they last, how often they happen and if they are getting better or worse.

Pain
Please let us know when you have pain. It may not be possible to be pain-free, but there are ways to help lower it. We will ask you to rate your pain on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain and 10 being the most pain. This helps the doctor and nurse know how well your treatment is working and if changes should be made.

Your Medical Condition
We are happy to answer any questions about your condition. Patient education materials are available for many medical conditions. If you need assistance finding materials, ask your nurse.

Medication and Food

• During your stay, take only medications and foods prescribed by your doctor and administered by hospital staff, unless your doctor orders otherwise.
• Ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse what each medicine will do.
• Tell us about all over-the-counter medicines, home remedies and herbal medications you are taking (including tea, vitamins or weight loss products). Writing them down is also helpful.
• Tell us how you take your medicines, especially if it is different from how they were prescribed.
• Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse about allergies or side effects to medicines. Also tell them what happened when you did take it.
• If you do not recognize a medicine that is given to you, ask what it is and why it is being given to you.

Use of Tobacco
Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Institute is a tobacco free campus. Smoking and the use of tobacco products are prohibited. This includes vehicles, entrances, doors, courtyards and other areas. We believe this action is in keeping with our mission to improve the health and lives of our patients and community.