Patients are referred to elective cardiac surgery with an all-encompassing prior cardiological checkup. Based on this patients eligible for surgery are put on a waiting list taking into consideration the seriousness of their disease, their complaints and condition. When the necessary examinations and interventions (carotid Doppler test, abdominal ultrasonography, dental examination, urological examination for men, gynecological examination for women or foci removal if it is needed) for the elective surgery are complete, patients arrive at the Cardiac Surgery Anesthesiology Consultation for examinations regarding anesthesia, and to check on the completed tests for foci. Patients are informed about the exact time of their admission to hospital by phone, and in writing about their responsibilities regarding admission.
Patients are requested to bring with them their ID card, the Hungarian Social Security Card (TAJ card), the previous cardiologyical documents and discharge summaries. On admission patients’ data are checked and entered into the computer system then sent to the preoperative care unit. There the ward nurse informs patients about responsibilities associated with their hospitalization, the rules of the ward, and prepares the nursing documents and assigns beds. After the admission procedure, the ward doctor prepares the patient files, fever charts, medication chart and medical documents (patient information sheet and informed consent form for the surgery and transfusion).
On day 6 after the operation follow-up examinations are carried out. Based on the results of these, and the condition of the patient, the surgeon decides on further treatment at the clinic, transfer home, or to a cardiology rehabilitation ward in the patients’ region for further rehabilitation. Patients are checked out of the clinic’s computer system when the medical and nursing discharge summaries are prepared.