INFORMATION FOR FOREIGN OR OVERSEAS PATIENTS OF THE
JAN PALFIJN HOSPITAL

1/ Send X-rays in advance by normal mail (post) or FEDEX (works well) or digitally by e-mail.

2/ Ask for a cost analysis ( ), which depends on the type of operation and prosthesis and length of stay (ex. unilateral or bilateral procedure)

3/ To plan officially a procedure we need your full name, exact date of birth, exact address, side of operation and gender.

4/ People sensitive to “jet lag” are advised to come over a few days earlier, as Ghent, Bruges and Brussels are nearby and worth visiting.

5/ Fly to Brussels Airport (Zaventem) in Brussels Belgium (50 km of Ghent). You can get to Ghent by taxi direct to the accommodation or by train (link) to GENT ST-PIETERS (5 minutes from hospital, hotels and other accommodations).

6/ The hospital where Dr.De Smet performs his surgery is the “Jan Palfijn” Hospital Ghent, site Watersportbaan.

7/ Admission in hospital is at the ZERO floor (opname=admission) “Jan Palfijn” Hospital Ghent.

8/ Admission takes place on a Monday or Tuesday at 2:00 pm.

9/ All payments are done in advance. Credit Cards (VISA) are accepted for the hospital payment only. The other payments are treated by the secretary of Dr De Smet. The currency preferred used is EURO (USD or CAD is also possible). These payments are done by wire transfer.
Six months after admission the full billing administration is sent, with eventually a refund. CPT and other codes for the insurance are put on these forms! On exception and on special request this is sent earlier (ex. for tax reasons)

10/ While patient is admitted and stays in the hospital, the hotel accommodation can be used by accompanying persons or family members. The secretary of Dr.De Smet will book this, once the operation is scheduled officially and the information is given about the accompanying persons.

11/ Your stay at the Rehab Center AFTER surgery will be arranged by the office. A transfer (10 minutes) will be arranged from the hospital to the hotel.

12/ If patient arrives earlier than the admission date in Ghent, patient can choose the accommodation freely (hotels in Ghent or Bed & Breakfast).

13/ At noon a hot meal is served at the hospital, in the evening you will receive only sandwiches.

14/ Crutches (ELBOW crutches) can be bought at the hospital (25 EURO).

SCHEDULE

DAY 1

Admission at 14.00 at the hospital. Preoperative exams, blood analysis, ECG (electrocardiogram), chest x-ray and x-rays of hip are done. Admitted at the orthopaedic ward or short stay at the “Jan Palfijn” hospital.

DAY 2

SURGERY DAY
Back to the ward in the afternoon or evening, after stay at the recovery room (NO intensive care). BLOOD TRANSFUSION is quite safe in Belgium (Voluntary, not granted blood donation). For a unilateral resurfacing most frequently no blood is given. For a bilateral resurfacing often a blood transfusion is done with 2-4 units of Packed Cells. Cell-saver system can be used to regain the patients own blood cells.

DAY 3

GETTING OUT OF BED AND WALKING FULL WEIGHT BEARING.
Removal of all catheters and infusions. With a unilateral procedure no bladder catheter is used. In bilateral resurfacing a continuous epidural catheter is used for comfort of pain.

DAY 4

Drain is removed from the wound. Patients with a unilateral resurfacing leave at midday to the Rehab Hotel (Surgery on Tuesday – Hotel on Thursday / Surgery on Wednesday – Hotel on Friday). Bilateral resurfacings stay until Sunday or Tuesday (5 to 7 days hospital). When the patient leaves the hospital, all drugs (medication) for three weeks are given with the patient (Subcutaneous heparin injections and indomethacine tablets).