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STAR TREATMENT
Hospital stays are a far cry from a trip to the spa, but there are things you can do to up the pampering quotient. Here are a few suggestions to help you get the star treatment.
It's all about who you know
In the business world, the best results are often obtained by befriending the CEO's assistant, not the big cheese. The same goes for many hospitals — your most valuable resource for top-notch treatment isn't necessarily your specialist, but your nurse.
During treatment, you'll spend more time with your nurse than anyone else. It's worth it to make a connection. Make conversation when you feel up to it. The better your nurse knows you, the better he or she can help ensure your comfort. They can even help expedite matters — from responding quickly to your need for pain relievers to expediting a visit from your doctor or even just fetching an extra blanket. It's a nice gesture to recognize their efforts with small tokens, such as flowers or a small gift basket. (Make sure the hospital allows it before splurging.) No time to shop? Company freebies are perfectly acceptable; one publishing exec ingratiated herself with advance copies of glossy magazines.
Reach out for pampering
The best way to get a little extra care is to ask for it. If you're in for a lengthy stay, you may want to contact Chemo Angels, an organization that provides special attention to cancer patients by mailing cards and small gifts during and after a hospital stay. Or find out what patient support or advocacy options your hospital offers. At the very least, most have volunteers to help care for and comfort cancer patients.
The Ultimate Stay
Picture this: You've emerged from your bubble bath, dried off with a fluffy monogrammed towel, and slipped into a bed made with fine cotton sheets. In the morning, you'll order a gourmet breakfast cooked the way you want it, when you want it. The Hilton? Not quite. You're in the Marburg Pavilion at Johns Hopkins Hospital, one of an increasing number of luxury accommodations now available at healthcare facilities nationwide.
These luxury or deluxe rooms and suites offer more privacy, comfort, and convenience than regular hospital rooms. As with all luxuries, you'll pay more--anywhere from around $200 to $2,000 per night — but you may decide it's a worthwhile investment in your well-being. (If there's ever a time to splurge, it's now.)
Depending on the facility, these rooms offer creature comforts such as cable television, movie rental, custom meals, fax machines, extra phone lines, data cables, etc. And perhaps most valuable of all, a little extra peace and quiet. Here are a few hospitals that offer such accommodations:
If your treatment center isn't listed here, ask them if they have deluxe or luxury rooms. If not, try for a private room--with its increased promise of peace and quiet.
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