You can contribute to maintaining proper and safe treatment at OLVG

Take valid proof of identity with you when you visit OLVG. This is required by law and also applies to children and babies from 30 days old. We cannot provide healthcare without this proof. More about identification requirements

Employees will ask you questions to prevent mistakes. It is important that you always provide your name, date of birth or other information if OLVG staff request this.

Are you moving? Notify us of a change of address.

Is your information still correct? Such as your telephone number, the name of your GP or pharmacy? Always report changes to your personal information.

• Write down in advance what it is you want to ask or say.
• Provide all the information you know about your health. Explain what your issues are.
• Carefully read the information you receive from us and follow the instructions and advice as closely as possible.
• Perhaps take a family member or someone you know well with you to the meeting with your doctor or other healthcare provider. Two people will hear (and ask) more than one would be able to.
• You can also make audio recordings of conversations with your healthcare provider, for example using your telephone, so that you can listen to the conversation again later.
• Do you already have access to the MijnOLVG patient portal? MijnOLVG is a free service for patients that allows you to view your data online.
• Don't forget to bring your own, and/or your child's, identity documents with you. Without identification, we are not permitted to provide you with healthcare.

Take the following with you to the hospital:

• valid ID
• current medication overview (free from your pharmacy)
• a referral letter (if you have one)

Say if you don't understand something. You are entitled to clear information.

Do you need extra time to decide on an examination or treatment? Most of the time, this will not be a problem. Let your doctor or practitioner know.

Are you finding it difficult to make a choice? Then consult with your GP/other doctor or a person you trust.

Before you go home, consider whether everything is clear to you, for example:

• when will I get the results?
• which medications do I need to use? How often and for how long?

3 good questions

These three questions can help you in your conversation with your healthcare provider and with making decisions about your treatment:

1. What are my options?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these options?
3. What does that mean in my situation?

People in the hospital are often particularly susceptible to infections. You can help us prevent infections by washing your hands with soap and water before eating and after every visit to the toilet, for example.

Use a paper tissue when blowing your nose and when coughing and sneezing and throw it away after use.

Have you been admitted to a foreign hospital in the past 2 months? Then let us know about this.

Does your job involve working with cattle? Then please tell your healthcare provider about this.

All healthcare providers will disinfect their hands with hand alcohol before they treat or examine you. They do not wear jewellery on their forearms and hands and they will roll up their sleeves to above the elbow. You can call us out on this if the rules are not followed.

Ensure that your healthcare provider always knows which medications you are using.

• Take a current medication overview to your appointment at the hospital.
• Report any change of medication to your healthcare provider.
• Do you use (herbal) medicines without a prescription, such as Ibuprofen or St John's wort? Tell us about this.
• Do you suffer from side effects or allergies when you take certain medications? Let us know about this.
• Ask questions if medications look different to what you are used to.
• Are you receiving new medications? Inform yourself about their use and any side effects.

Questions or concerns?

Have you seen something that worries you or that you have questions about? Then discuss this with your healthcare provider or with the head of the department. You can also pass this on to the staff at the general reception desk.