Upon discharge a list of physicians you are required to follow-up with will be listed on your discharge instructions.

Do you need to follow-up with your primary care physician after discharge?

You should always follow-up with your primary care physician after discharge from the hospital. This will allow them to evaluate your recovery and response to treatment, and note any change in your condition or medications. Your chart will be updated to show any change in your medications. Always bring your medication list you received upon discharge with you.

When should I call?

If an appointment hasn’t been made for you before you leave the hospital you will need to call your physician the first day or two after discharge. This will allow the office time to schedule your appointment in the time frame requested by the physician.

Should I follow-up with all the specialists that saw me in the hospital?

At times you may have seen many physicians while in the hospital. You may be wondering if you need to follow-up with them upon discharge. If the physician feels they need to see you again they will write an order as to when they would like to see you. At times they may only need to see you if you have an additional problem concerning the area or symptom they were seeing you for. Anyone you are required to see will be listed on your instructions with their phone number.

What if I don’t have a family doctor?

It’s important for you to select a primary care physician so someone can be in charge of your care. If you need medications you will need a primary care physician to write the prescriptions. Having a family physician may also save you unnecessary visits to the emergency room. You can select a family physician in several ways. Go to www.conemaugh.org to “Find a Physician.” You may also call 1-800-587-587-5875 during normal business hours or check with you insurance provider for a list of physicians that accept your insurance.

You should try to find a physician within a day or two of discharge. It may take a few weeks or a month to be seen as a new patient. Generally the first visit takes longer as the physician needs time to get to know you and your medical history. They can only see a certain number of new patients in a day.


This information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.