As Our Guest
Your Room
After arriving at the Hospital, you will be taken to your room and shown around by a member of your healthcare team. If you need help or want to talk to a nurse, use the call bell/intercom system attached to the bed in your room to alert a nurse, who will come to your room as promptly as possible. If you think you are experiencing an emergency, please tell the person answering the call that it is an emergency. Otherwise, please allow a few minutes for the nurse to arrive. If you have any questions regarding your room or healthcare team, please ask.
Your healthcare team
Your healthcare team includes your doctor, a registered nurse, a patient care technician and possibly a dietitian or other specialists. A case manager or social worker will be assigned if necessary.
Advance directives
When you are admitted, you should provide the Hospital with a copy of any legal documents you may have regarding your healthcare. These documents may include an "advance directive" such as a living will, appointment of a health care agent or durable power of attorney for healthcare decisions. If you do not have an advance directive or wish to receive additional information or assistance, a referral will be made for you to our Care Management Department.
A living will is a legal document that specifies the medical care you would like to receive if you are ever permanently unconscious or otherwise dying and unable to speak for yourself. A Living Will takes effect only when the patient is incapacitated and can no longer express his or her wishes. Appointment of a healthcare agent enables you to authorize a family member(s) or friend(s) to convey your wishes to your doctor about the use of life support systems in the event that you are not able to express your wishes yourself. The best way to communicate your wishes to your health care agent is to make a living will and then give a copy of it to your health care agent.
A durable power of attorney for health care decisions allows you to name another person to make health care decisions for you, except those regarding the discontinuation of life support systems. Since it may be used for purposes other than health care, it is best to discuss this option with your attorney. While these documents remain in effect until changed by you, a copy needs to be presented to the Hospital each time you are admitted. Patients with a legal guardian, conservator or power of attorney need to bring a copy of the document with them when they register at the Hospital.
Meals
Each morning you will be given a menu from which to select your next day’s meals.
Meals are served during the following hours:
- Breakfast: 7:00 - 8:00 am
- Lunch: 11:30 am -1:00 pm
- Dinner: 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Television and radio
Color television sets are installed throughout the Hospital with cable TV service provided free of charge courtesy of the Backus Foundation, Inc. The same pillow speaker sound system used for TV also provides radio reception at no charge.
Telephone
You may receive outside telephone calls from 6:30 am until 10 pm. You may make local calls by dialing 9 followed by the telephone number you wish to call. To place long distance calls, dial 5 and wait for the dial tone. Then dial 0, the area code, and then the number. Toll calls may be placed collect or charged to your home or telephone credit card. Insurance companies will not pay for personal telephone calls. You may reach a local information operator by dialing 5 followed by 411. If you need assistance, dial 0 and the Hospital operator will help you. Special telephones and TTY telecommunications units are available for hearing-impaired patients. Please ask your nurse for information.
Cell phones
Cell phone use is limited to designated areas only. The designated areas include the main lobby, the cafeteria, the Emergency Department waiting room, the Hospital Annex and any outside location on the Hospital campus. Otherwise, cell phones should be completely turned off.
Personal belongings
The Hospital is not responsible for valuables left in your room or retained at the bedside. Jewelry, cash or medications should be taken home for you by a family member or friend. You may ask to have your valuables deposited in the Hospital vault; in such instances, our Security Department will secure the items on behalf of the patient. For large sums of money, the Security Department reserves the right to convert most or all of the funds into a money order. With regard to medications, the Hospital pharmacy will supply any medications your physician may order for you while you are in the Hospital.
Lost and found
To report items that have been lost or found, please call Security at 889-8331 ext. 6364.
Pastoral care
The Hospital’s Pastoral Care Department, staffed by Roman Catholic and Protestant chaplains, is available to assist all patients and their families with spiritual needs. If you would like to see a Chaplain, ask a member of the nursing staff or the hospital operator to call beeper #0220. The Hospital also maintains a chapel open to the public on the ground floor.