What to bring — and what not to bring to the hospital
Preparing for your hospital stay helps ensure a safe and smooth experience.
For safety reasons, do not bring weapons, illicit drugs, tobacco or vaping products, alcohol, pets (except certified service animals), recording devices, valuables, unapproved food, personal medications, or electrical items into the hospital.
Thank you for helping keep our patients and staff safe.
Recommended items
Personal items
- Loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
- Comfortable walking shoes and slippers.
- Eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, canes, walkers, crutches and other assistive devices if necessary for your stay.
- Pen and paper, for writing notes and questions.
- Earplugs and earphones.
- Phone and charger.
Registration items
- Identification.
- Insurance information or Medicare card, if you have one.
- Prescription drug insurance card and preferred pharmacy name, address, city, state and ZIP code.
- A copy of your living will or advance directive, so it can be placed in your medical record.
- A complete medication list. For each medication, please include:
- Medication name.
- Dose (strength and how often you take it).
- Prescribing provider.
- Pharmacy name.
Be sure to include all prescriptions, over‑the‑counter medicines, and vitamins, supplements, and herbal products.
Prohibited items
Medications
To ensure your safety, all medications must be provided by the hospital during your stay, unless your doctor has specifically asked you to bring specialty medication with you. Bringing medications from home may cause dosing errors, interactions, or delays in care. If you use a continuous infusion medication pump, please speak with your provider before admission or alert the care team when you arrive so they can ensure safe and appropriate management.
Do not bring
- Prescription medications.
- Over-the-counter medications.
- Vitamins, herbal supplements, or natural remedies.
Weapons
Weapons are not permitted on hospital property. This policy helps maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors, and staff. If these items are brought in, they are subject to removal.
Do not bring
- Firearms (including concealed carry weapons).
- Knives or sharp objects (other than essential medical devices).
- Pepper spray, tasers, or other self‑defense weapons.
- Explosives or flammable materials.
Illicit drugs, tobacco, vaping & recreational substances
Our hospital is a smoke‑free and drug‑free campus. This includes all forms of tobacco, vaping, recreational substances and illicit drugs. If these items are brought in, they are subject to disposal.
Do not bring
- Illicit drugs or substances not prescribed by a licensed provider.
- Cigarettes, cigars, pipes.
- E‑cigarettes or vaping devices.
- Marijuana or cannabis products (smoked, vaped, or edible).
Valuables and large sums of cash
We recommend leaving valuables at home. The hospital is not responsible for lost or stolen personal items.
Do not bring
- Large amounts of cash.
- Jewelry, collectibles, or irreplaceable items.
Alcohol
Alcohol is not permitted.
Do not bring
- Beer, wine or liquor.
- Alcohol‑containing products not used for medical purposes.
Outside food
Do not bring outside food or beverages not approved by clinical staff
Some medical conditions require special diets. Please check with staff before bringing outside food or drinks.
Animals
To protect patient health and prevent infections, only approved service animals as defined by the ADA are permitted inside the hospital.
Do not bring
- Emotional support animals.
- Pets.
Recording devices
To protect patient privacy, photography, video, or audio recording is not allowed without appropriate consent.
Do not bring
- Cameras or video recording equipment used without permission.
- Audio recording of staff or patients without consent.
Noise producing or disruptive items
Do not bring
- Loudspeakers or music devices.
- Musical instruments.
- Toys or electronics without headphones.
