31
Mar 2025
5 Questions to Ask to Determine the Duration of Your Hospital Stay
Published in General on March 31, 2025

A stay in the hospital for any reason can be overwhelming and leave you with questions, the first of which is usually, “When can I go home?” But you may also have other practical concerns related to the length of your hospital stay, like if you’ll need to secure long-term parking for your vehicle, or look into available hospital accommodation options for your family or other loved ones who may be coming along as well.
Then, you can prepare security plans for your home and property in the event of an extended stay. Should you invest in smart security systems for your home? Should you book a house sitter or a pet sitter? Should you get comprehensive car insurance if your vehicle will be in the hospital car park for several weeks? Can your colleagues handle an upcoming project without you? All of these questions can be answered by ensuring you develop an itinerary for your upcoming hospital stay, mapping out travel days, the date of your procedure, and the expected monitoring and post-op recovery timeline with your physician.
In all cases, your stay in the hospital will depend on multiple factors, like your diagnosis, treatment plan, and recovery speed. It can be challenging to get a definitive answer about the duration of your hospital stay because, despite their knowledge, no doctor can say with certainty how you will recover and whether or not there will be any delays.
Proactively asking your physician the right questions can help you get a better idea of when you can return home. But what questions should you be asking? Our experts at Hospital Stays say start with the 5 following questions to ensure you’re as ready as you can be for your next scheduled hospital stay.
- What’s the typical length of stay for a procedure/condition like this?
Different medical conditions require different lengths of hospital stay. Every diagnosis requires a different treatment plan, and every person has a unique situation that impacts their recovery speed. Someone undergoing a minor procedure may be in the hospital for under a week, while treatments for more serious conditions can take months.
However, learning more about the general time frame you can expect to be in the hospital can help ease your anxieties and allow you to adjust your expectations. Get a clear answer by asking your healthcare provider for specific data, including best and worst-case scenarios.
- What are the key recovery milestones I need to meet before going home?
Once you have an idea of the average length of stay you can expect, ask which key recovery milestones you should work toward to ensure you can return home sooner rather than later. Recovery milestones can include things somewhat within your control, like mobility improvement, but they can also include things like wound healing or vital signs stabilisation.
Regardless of which recovery milestones you need to meet, follow up by asking your care team what you can do to speed up the recovery process. They may encourage you to practise improving your mobility outside of physio sessions, or they may ask you to simply rest.
- What potential complications could extend my stay?
It’s important to understand that unexpected complications can cause your healthcare provider to extend your hospital stay. Infections, adverse reactions to medication, or surgical complications can lead to prolonged hospitalisation. No one can guarantee that your recovery will be free from complications, but you can take preventative measures to avoid them.
For example, informing your doctor about your allergies and medical history may help avoid adverse reactions. Maintaining hygiene and following your care team’s instructions regarding wound care can also help prevent infection.
- Can any part of my recovery be handled at home?
Depending on your condition, you may be eligible for discharge if and when your doctor feels your recovery can be handled at home. Some recovery processes can be safely managed at home with proper medical supervision, routine appointments, professional home care providers, or concerned loved ones.
Ask if your condition may qualify for at-home recovery, then determine at what point in your hospital stay you may reach a stage where returning home to recover is possible. This will give you an idea of the minimum amount of time you may be in the hospital. However, there are risks associated with home care, so ensure you fully understand these before deciding if you’d like to shorten your hospital stay.
- How can I handle my recovery process after I’m discharged?
Although this question will not determine the duration of your current hospital stay, it can help determine whether you will likely be admitted again. This question can also help your physician segue into whether follow-up appointments will be necessary following your hospital stay, and what the timeline is likely to be regarding the duration, spacing, and frequency of those check-ins.
To avoid another hospital stay, ask your doctor for detailed instructions on managing your recovery process after discharge. So long as you heed the advice provided by your physician and medical team, you should be able to enjoy a comfortable recovery process, and perhaps even reduce your check-in appointments in the process as well.
Be Prepared for your next Hospital Stay
It’s completely normal to feel uneasy if you’ve been recently admitted to the hospital, but determining the duration of your hospital stay can help you adjust your expectations and plan for the coming days. Communication is key. Your healthcare provider may not have an exact answer, but these questions can help you get an idea of how long you may be under their care. In summary, your discussions with your care team should include:
- The average length of stay for this procedure/condition, including the best and worst-case scenarios.
- Key recovery milestones you need to meet before being released from the hospital and how you can meet them.
- Potential complications that could prolong your hospitalisation and how you can avoid them.
- The possibility of managing part of your recovery process from home.
- Steps you can take to avoid re-hospitalisation after you are discharged.