Hospital Services

If you have a valid PEI Health Card, you will be covered for costs associated with medically necessary hospital services as an inpatient or outpatient in Prince Edward Island. As a patient, you can access different services as part of your care.

What type of care is offered at each hospital in Prince Edward Island?
There are seven hospitals in Prince Edward Island.

The two main referral hospitals provide inpatient, outpatient, community and specialty services.

There are four community hospitals. Services vary at each facility but typically include acute care, extended care, and community-based services.

The province has one in-patient psychiatric facility that provides specialized acute and long-term treatment and rehabilitation.

Hillsborough Hospital and Special Care Centre

When should I go to an emergency department versus a walk-in clinic?
If you or someone in your care has an urgent medical condition or is experiencing a health crisis, go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 9-1-1.

Some examples of an urgent medical condition include:

discomfort or tightness in the chest;
unusual shortness of breath;
abdominal pain;
a prolonged and persistent headache or dizziness;
an injury that may require stitches or may involve a broken bone;
prolonged diarrhea or vomiting (especially a child); or
a fever of 38°C or 100.4°F, or higher (a baby under six months).

If you are not feeling well and cannot wait to access your family doctor, a walk-in clinic can offer non-urgent care after hours.

A telehealth nurse can help you determine if you require emergency or non-urgent care. Call 8-1-1 for free and confidential advice from a registered nurse any time of day or night, 7 days a week.

What are my rights and responsibilities as a patient?
It is important that you understand your rights and responsibilities as a patient. Your rights explain how you should expect to be treated. Your responsibilities explain how you can be a more active member of your health care team and help us to provide you with the best and safest care possible.

What if I don’t speak English?
Interpretation services are available if you do not speak English. This service is offered to newcomers, immigrants, and francophone patients and families as clear communication is essential for effective health service.

How should I prepare for a stay in the hospital?
If you are admitted to a hospital, you should bring the following items with you:

- Your PEI Health Card and your private health insurance card (if you have private coverage);
- An up-to-date list of your medications, [PDF | 609 KB] including how much, how often and why you are taking each one and if you have any medication allergies.
  - Take all medications with you (in their original container) – pills, inhalers, eye drops, patches, injections, and creams.
  - Include any over-the-counter products you use, such as vitamins and herbal products.

Note: Medications you take in a hospital may look different from what you are used to taking at home. If you have questions, ask your health care provider or ask to speak to the pharmacist.

Personal care items including pajamas/nightgown and robe, slippers or indoor footwear, toiletries such as soap, shampoo, toothbrush, and toothpaste;
Do not take personal valuables such as money, credit cards or jewelry.

What should I know when preparing for surgery?
Most surgeries performed are day surgeries from which you return home the same day, while other surgeries may require you to stay in the hospital where you can be monitored during your recovery.

If you are scheduled for day surgery, you can expect to go home in the early to late afternoon or evening on the day of your operation. You will need to arrange for someone to take you home once your procedure is finished.

You will be given specific instructions on how to prepare for your surgery, including taking or not taking medications, fasting, what you need to bring with you, etc. Failure to follow instructions may result in the cancellation of your surgery.

Things to remember:

One business day before your surgery, call the hospital to confirm the time you are expected to arrive (for example: if your surgery is on Monday, call on Friday).
Bring any requested forms, your PEI Health Card, and private health insurance (if applicable) with you on the day of your surgery.
If you have a known history of an antibiotic-resistant organism (MRSA or VRE) or a Latex allergy, advise your surgeon as soon as possible prior to your surgery date.
If you are sick within a few days before your surgery, contact your surgeon or family physician. If you are canceling your surgery, contact the Surgical Booking Office as soon as possible: Queen Elizabeth Hospital: (902) 894-2239
Prince County Hospital: (902) 438-4470A 24-hour advance notice would allow time for another patient to be rescheduled in your place.
If you experience any unusual symptoms after your discharge from the hospital, go to the nearest Emergency Department.

How can I avoid other illnesses while in the hospital?
Patients in a hospital have weaker immune systems and are more susceptible to infection caused by everyday germs. You can help reduce the spread of infection by:

washing your hands thoroughly and often;
using alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is available throughout the hospital, especially when you enter and exit; and
informing health care staff if you have a communicable illness (such as antibiotic resistance organisms (MRSA or VRE)).

Will I have to share a room with another patient?
You can request a private or semi-private room; however, they are not always available. Patients requiring rooms for medical reasons have priority.

Check with your private insurance company to find out what your health insurance covers. If you don’t have insurance, you will be responsible for the additional cost of the room. You can inquire about rate and availability at the admitting department.

Private: one bed, a washroom, and a telephone
Semi-private: two beds separated by a curtain, shared bathroom, and two telephones
Ward (no additional cost): four beds separated by curtains, shared washroom and four telephones

How do I activate room telephone and television service?
Patients can arrange for telephone and television service while in hospital. You can ask the staff for more information on how to access these services.

Will I be able to continue my religious practice while in the hospital?
Hospital chaplains provide spiritual and religious care to patients, families, and staff. You will be invited to register a church name and affiliation when you are admitted to the hospital so that you can receive appropriate spiritual care. Hospitals also partner with community-based spiritual care leaders for support after hours.

What will happen when I go home from the hospital?
Once you are discharged from the hospital, you should arrange to leave by 11:00 am. Ask your health care provider about follow-up care instructions and medication.

Should I visit a patient in the hospital?
Visitors play an important supportive role in meeting a patient’s needs during their care in the hospital. General visiting hours and guidelines help balance a patient’s need for visitors and the health care team’s responsibility to provide timely treatments and procedures. At certain times, special temporary restrictions may be added to ensure the hospital is a safe environment for patients, visitors, and the hospital health care team.

Please consider the following general visiting hours and guidelines:

Consider the needs of the person you are visiting and whether they share a room with others. People are typically hospitalized because they require intensive nursing and medical care, rest and quiet time.
Use the hand sanitizer provided when you enter and leave the hospital to reduce the spread of germs.
Individual nursing units have different guidelines for family and visitors; check with unit staff.
Do not visit the hospital if you were recently exposed to a communicable disease such as chickenpox, measles or whooping cough or are feeling unwell.
If you are visiting someone with an infectious illness or condition, isolation precautions and other infection control guidelines posted on the door must be strictly followed. Check with the nursing unit staff if you are unsure.
The number of visitors in a room may be limited. Consider coordinating your visits with other family members and friends to ensure patients are not overwhelmed with too many visitors and that they are able to get enough rest.
Visitors may be asked to leave the room during treatments or examinations.
A patient or their family may request visitor restriction; check with unit staff.
Children under age 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Check with the patient’s health care provider before bringing gifts of food, drink or flowers.
Smoking is prohibited in the hospital and on hospital grounds.
Hospitals are scent-free. Refrain from wearing scented products during your visit and do not provide highly scented flowers to patients or hospital staff.

* Specialized units have varying visiting hours; please call the hospital if you are unsure of a unit’s visiting hours.

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