Thank you for the input. I was very upset with the hospital, but I had already spent over $300 on his stay there, so I was ready to just get it over with. I honestly don't have the money to buy another thermometer right now, but I will definitely put the newspaper and paper towels over his heating pad. If I just lay down one or two pieces of thin cardboard, like from the mail, and tape them down over the heating pad, and then cover that with substrate, will that be okay? Also, is it safe to administer ointment on his wound myself? What kind exactly do you recommend?
Here is a picture of his tank setup. The heating pad is under his log, and the bulb is 100watts (though I have a 150watt to switch it out on cold days).
I try to keep a wet towel over the screen top and spray his substrate daily.