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Cough & Cold Line

In anticipation of an increase in respiratory illness in our community -- flu, RSV and COVID-19 -- ChristianaCare has set up a new COUGH & COLD LINE to help you out! If you are 18 and older and don’t feel well, CALL 302-623-7400, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Through a series of prompts, the ChristianaCare COUGH & COLD LINE will provide helpful info on how best to manage your cold, flu and COVID-19 symptoms at home. We’ll also guide you on when you should seek care.

Through the ChristianaCare COUGH & COLD LINE, we can help connect you with a ChristianaCare virtual primary care provider.

If your need is more urgent, there are 16 ChristianaCare Go-Health Urgent Care Centers in DE and MD. Save your spot in line or set up a virtual visit.

Your Hospital Stay

Your Care

What you need to know to be a full partner in your care.

ID & Medications Partnering in Your Care Care Team Pain & Comfort Preventing Complications

Identification & Medications

When you arrive, we will give you a hospital ID bracelet with your name, date of birth, and medical record number. Please wear this until you are discharged. We will check your ID bracelet before giving medicines or doing tests and treatments.

It's important to know what medicines you take and why you take them.

Keep a list of all medicines, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements.
Tell your care team about any allergies you may have.
Don’t take your home medicine while in the hospital. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and illegal drugs. If we must use your home medicines, our pharmacists will put a label on them.

If you are receiving medications during your stay, feel free to ask your care team questions such as:

What is this medicine for?
How should I take it?
What are the side effects?

Partnering in Your Care

Speak Up. Your care team will introduce themselves and explain what they will be doing. Let us know if you have questions or concerns about your care. Tell your care team if something doesn’t seem right. We will check your ID bracelet before giving you medicine, starting treatment or doing a test.

If we explain something and you don't understand, ask us to explain it again.
We may ask you to explain things back to us to make sure we're clear.
Tell your care team if something doesn't seem right.

Please ask questions any time - we're here to help, and want to make sure that you fully understand and are confident with the care you receive.

Your Care Team

Your care team has many different people with many different roles. Everyone will introduce themselves to you, but you can also tell who someone is by the color of their scrubs.

When your nurses change shifts, they will talk about your care at the bedside.
You can meet your new nurse, ask questions, share important information, and hear your care plan.

Nurses and patient care technicians will check on you about every hour during the day and every two hours at night.
They will ask about your pain, if you need to use the bathroom, if you're comfortable, and if you can reach your things.
Please tell them if they can do something to make you more comfortable.

A nurse leader will visit you at least once during your stay.
They'll ask you about your care, your overall experience, and if they can answer any questions you may have.

We want to make sure you understand your care.
We may ask you to explain things back to us, to make sure that we’re clear.
If something doesn’t make sense, we’ll explain it again.
Please ask questions anytime. We’re here to help.

Pain & Comfort

Everyone feels pain differently, and our goal is to help you feel as comfortable as possible. To help treat your pain, your care team may recommend:

Medicines to help with pain.
Heat and cold therapy to reduce soreness or swelling.
Relaxation - such as deep breathing or guided meditation - for comfort.
Physical therapy to help you move and feel better.
Rest to help your body heal.

Please let your care team know how much pain you feel so we can help - your comfort and well-being are important to us.

Preventing Complications

The best way to prevent infections is for everyone to wash their hands, and for sick visitors to stay home. Here are additional guidelines for your stay:

Wash your hands with soap and water, or hand sanitizer, after using the bathroom, before eating, or after touching anything dirty.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when sneezing or coughing.
If your health condition requires isolation, we'll post a sign on your door. Everyone will be required to wear personal protective equipment.
If you're in isolation, speak to your nurse before leaving your room.

Bed sores can happen if you stay in one position too long, like lying in bed or sitting in a chair. They can also form when the skin folds over on itself. Common places for bed sores are your tailbone, hips, elbows, heels, and shoulders. To help prevent bed sores:

Change positions every two hours in bed.
If in a chair or wheelchair, move your position every 15 minutes.
Don't slide into bed or slump in your chair.
Don't sleep in a recliner.
Eat healthy foods with protein.

Falling can cause injuries. Always press the nurse’s call button and wait for help, even if you think you can get up or move on your own. We care about you and want to keep you safe. To stay safe:

We will help you walk or go to the bathroom and stay in the bathroom to keep you safe.
We will move things that may cause you to fall.
Don't lean on things with wheels, like poles or bedside tables.
Sit in your chair, not on the edge of your bed.
Your bed and chair may have an alarm to alert us if you get up.