What to Bring

A cozy hospital room with wood flooring features a patient bed adorned with plush toys, colorful blankets, and a pillow. The walls are decorated with photos, drawings, and flags. Next to the bed is a green chair with a fox plushie and a bouquet of balloons.

Personal items to bring

Having some of your personal items from home can make you feel more comfortable during your stay at Shepherd Center. This could mean bringing your books and photographs or a favorite T-shirt and sweater. Below are personal care items we suggest all rehabilitation patients bring with them to Shepherd.

  • Toothbrush and floss
  • Comb or brush
  • Shaving supplies
  • Deodorant
  • Makeup
  • Shampoo and other hair care products
  • Hair dryer
  • Eyeglasses and/or contact lenses
  • A list of your current prescription and over-the-counter medications, including name, dosage, administration times, and any allergies. Do not bring the medications themselves. To ensure your safety, your clinical team will reconcile your current medications with any new ones they may order and distribute all medications from the hospital pharmacy.
  • Shepherd Center can provide some personal care items, if needed.
An occupational therapist sits next to a young man wearing Prism glasses as he uses a touch screen.

Medical records to bring

Your access case manager will be working with the referring facility to obtain the most current imaging during this hospital stay. If you have copies of your imaging (x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRIs) from current and previous hospitals where you have received care, please bring them with you to Shepherd Center.

If you have any questions, please contact your access case manager.

Clothing items to bring

If you are scheduled for surgery, be sure to bring pajamas or other comfortable clothes for your hospital stay.

Rehabilitation patients will get up and get dressed every day for therapy. You will need an assortment of comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. Be sure to label all clothes with your name in permanent marker. Below are clothing items we suggest all rehabilitation patients bring with them to Shepherd.

Clothing suggestions

  • Pajamas
  • Pants or shorts with elastic waistband, such as cotton or nylon sweatpants (consider going up one size)
  • Comfortable, stretchy, oversized V-neck shirts
  • Lightweight jacket
  • Swimsuit (optional)
  • Socks
  • Undergarments
  • Athletic shoes
  • Outdoor wear during the colder months, including warm jacket, heavy sweater, and hat

Clothing for community outings

As your rehabilitation progresses and you begin participating in community outings, you will need more usual daily wear. For these outings, you will need the type of clothes you wore before your hospital stay, such as casual pants and shirts, skirts or dresses, and everyday shoes.

Additional tips

  • Washers and dryers are available on each floor for patient use.
  • If additional clothes and/or personal items need to be purchased after the patient has been admitted, family members can request a free ride from Family Support Services at 404-367-1351 to take them within a 3-mile radius of the hospital on weekdays. The request must be made a full business day in advance of the day of the errand.

What not to bring

  • Valuable jewelry, expensive electronic items, or large amounts of cash
    • We recommend that no more than $10 be kept in your room at any time.
    • Shepherd Center cannot accept responsibility for lost items.
    • A small safe is available in patient rooms for the limited valuables you bring.
  • Heaters, heating pads, or equipment for food preparations and storage
  • Firearms, tasers, or other weapons
  • Pets
  • Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, and vaping devices
    • Shepherd Center is a non-smoking facility.

I brought a few things from home to make it feel as cozy as possible. I love using a diffuser for smells like lavender to relax after a long day at rehab… (I also brought) a few throw blankets for the couch and chair to have a few reminders of home.

Shawna Starks, Alabama Mother of Daughter with Spinal Cord Injury

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