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Preparing for Your Visit

Welcome to McDowell Hospital. We’re honored to be your neighborhood hospital and appreciate the opportunity to provide your healthcare. Our goal is to assist your recovery and make you as comfortable as possible. Please read the information below to prepare for your visit to McDowell.

Plan Ahead

Insurance and financial arrangements. Your insurance company may require precertification for services or they may need to preauthorize admission to the hospital. Please contact your insurance provider to be sure you’ve met all of their requirements. McDowell Hospital will file a claim with your insurance company, but you may be responsible for co-pays or deductibles at the time services are provided. If you don’t have insurance, we have staff available to discuss payment arrangements and help you apply for financial assistance. For more information visit McDowell’s Paying Your Bill web page.

Medical advance directives. Federal law requires us to ask all adult inpatients if they have legal documents called advance directives. Advance directives include the Living Will and the Health Care Power of Attorney. If you choose to have these directives, please complete them before coming to the hospital, or contact Connie Burgin, Director of Case Management, at 828-659-5137 to ask for more information.

Surgery Preparation. Follow your doctor’s instructions about limiting food intake, pre-surgery medication and preparation. Please ask your nurse or doctor for our free information booklet called Preparing for Your Surgery.

Admission

Registration will be completed at the time you come to the hospital; be sure to bring insurance information and, if you have them, medical advance directives. Please take the time to read the following tips and information:

No Smoking. McDowell Hospital maintains a smoke-free environment. It’s required by law, but more importantly, it protects the health and safety of our patients and community. No smoking is allowed in the hospital or anywhere on the hospital campus. If you’re scheduled for admission and are concerned about how to get through your hospitalization without smoking, please call the McDowell County Health Department at 828-652-6811 and ask for their assistance to help you through your non-smoking stay at McDowell Hospital.

What to bring – and what to leave behind – during your hospital stay:

  • Non-skid slippers
  • Cases for glasses, hearing aids, or dentures
  • Bath robe and toiletries if staying overnight
  • Crutches, walkers, canes or prosthetic devices, if appropriate
  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing
  • Do not wear make-up or nail polish
  • Do not bring money or credit cards
  • Do not bring electrical appliances
  • Remove all jewelry and contact lenses – leave them at home

Prepare for Discharge

Even before you are admitted to McDowell Hospital, it’s important to plan for your discharge, especially if you’re having surgery or will require special equipment.

  • Arrange to have an adult over the age of 18 to drive you home.
  • Will you be able to climb stairs or carry heavy objects? If not, make appropriate arrangements.
  • Evaluate your living space for safety – make sure there aren’t electrical wires or clutter in paths where you walk.
  • Our staff will help you obtain any special equipment you might need after you’re discharged. 

Visitor Information

Parking. Plenty of free parking is available on the McDowell Hospital campus.

Information Desk. Located in the main lobby of the hospital, stop by the information desk to find the room number of the person you’re visiting. Please ask for help from an employee or volunteer if you need assistance navigating the hospital.

Waiting Areas. Lounges are available for patients and guests on the patient floors and in the main lobby. McDowell Hospital provides special waiting areas for families of patients in surgery, in the critical care units, or being treated in the emergency department. Between the hours of 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, a volunteer is available at the front desk to update families on the progress of surgery.

Visitor Dining

Visitors can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the Mountain View Café, order take-out to eat in patient rooms, or ask the nurse for a guest tray to be delivered with the patient meal trays. Visit the McDowell Cafeteria web page for menus and additional information. Vending machines are available just off the main lobby and outside the main doors of the Emergency Department.

Gift Shop

McDowell Hospital’s Window Box Gift Shop carries everything you’ll need, including cards, gifts, flowers, books, and toiletries. For more information, follow the link to the gift shop’s web page, or call 828-659-5000.