Patient Services
Going Home
Before you leave
Patients discharged by their physician are requested to vacate their room
by 11 am.
This allows time for rooms to be cleaned and prepared for the arrival of
new patients. Your nurse will provide you with discharge instructions before
you leave. Ask for written discharge instructions if they aren’t provided
to you. It is important to follow discharge instructions related to medications,
home nursing, special equipment or therapy that might be included in your
recovery routine. A discharge escort can be arranged if needed. Patients
whose diagnosis requires them to learn self-management skills will be taught
these skills prior to discharge by certified teaching nurses from our Nursing
Education Department. In-hospital instructions will include the family whenever
possible. Some examples of teaching programs provided are diabetes education,
ostomy care education, cardiac and pulmonary education. Teaching nurses are
also available for outpatient instructions and counseling. Dial ext.
2495 or ask your nurse for assistance.
Discharge instructions
Your nurse will provide you with discharge instructions before you leave.
Ask for written discharge instructions if they aren’t provided to
you. It is important to follow discharge instructions related to medications,
home nursing, special equipment or therapy that might be included in your
recovery routine. A discharge escort can be arranged if needed.
Care Management/Social Services
The purpose of the Care Management team is to make Social Services available
to patients, their families and significant others to enable them to deal
with the impact of illness on individual and family functioning, and to
achieve maximum benefits from health care services. There is no charge
to the patient for Care Management services. A Social Worker is available
Monday through Friday during regular business hours. For more information,
call 889-8331, ext. 4294. Care Management functions include:
- Screening of all patients admitted to the Hospital.
- Identification of patients with potential need
for continued care upon discharge.
- Assessment of patient needs.
- Referral to resources most appropriate to meet
the needs of patients.
- Assistance with patient's financial concerns.
- Assistance with transportation, clothing and
housing.
- Information regarding community resources.
- Emotional counseling.
- Outpatient clinics.
- In-service training.
- Functioning as member of interdisciplinary team.
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Physical Therapy
Backus Hospital provides a number of physical therapy options for patients.
These include cardiac rehabilitation, outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation,
cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational therapy,
speech/language pathology as well as other rehabilitation services. Eastern
Connecticut Rehabilitation Centers (ECRC), an affiliate of Backus
Hospital, offers physical therapy to help individuals recover from illness
or injury. ECRC has facilities in Norwich, Gales Ferry, Colchester, Lisbon
and Killingly.
Extended care facilities
If you require a list of extended care facilities or home healthcare providers,
please contact Care Management at 889-8331 ext. 4294.
Safety at home
Home Safety Guides are available from the Connecticut
VNA, SE., an affiliate of Backus Hospital. The guide serves as a safety
checklist that is monitored on an ongoing basis. The guide also offers common
sense advice that virtually anyone can utilize in his or her day-to-day-life.
Safety issues include:
- Electrical safety. This includes ensuring that
cords are not under rugs, outlets are not overloaded
and flammable materials are far enough away from
heaters.
- Fire safety. Smoke detectors are crucial in any
home.
- Suitable communication. Homebound patients should
always have telephones nearby with easily accessible
phone numbers. They are encouraged to have cordless
phones that can be moved from room to room. Some
patients are encouraged to purchase Lifeline services,
either necklaces or bracelets, so if they fall
they can push a button and medical assistance will
come if needed.
- Environment and mobility safety. Connecticut
VNASE nurses evaluate whether staircases are in
good condition, whether they have hand railings,
and if need be send out a physical therapist to
help educate the patient on the safest way to move
around.
- Utilities. Electricity, heating and plumbing
should be in good working order.
- Kitchen safety. Make sure cleaning products are
not stored near food, and that flammable objects
are far enough away from the stove.
- Bathroom safety. Grab bars and non-skid mats
are essential safety tools.
- Medication safety. Make sure that medication
is not outdated, has proper labels and is stored
properly, particularly in an area where children
can't reach them.
- Oxygen safety. Never smoke in the vicinity of
oxygen tanks.
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Financial considerations
Upon discharge from the Hospital, you will receive a bill for services. The
Patient Accounts Department will assist you in processing your insurance
and Hospital bill. There may be more than one type of charge resulting
from your Hospital stay. During your hospitalization it is possible that
the specialized skills of other physicians and professionals are required.
You may receive separate billing for these services that are paid directly
to these providers. Examples of these services would be Diagnostic Imaging,
Pathology or Anesthesiology. Questions regarding these billings or services
should be directed to the specific provider or service.
If you have questions, call our Patient Accounts Department at 823-6394.
[See Also: Patient Billing for
more information.]
Your Medical Records
Medical records are the property of the Hospital. You have the right to inspect
and, upon written request, obtain a copy of your health information except
under certain limited circumstances. Under Connecticut law, if the Hospital
makes a copy of your medical record we will not charge more than 65 cents
a page, plus postage, plus a reasonable fee if you want x-ray films or
tissue samples. You can contact the Medical Records Department by
calling 889-8331 ext. 6382.
Patient Satisfaction Survey
After you are discharged, you will receive a questionnaire concerning your
Hospital stay. Please fill it out and return it in the envelope provided,
as your comments and suggestions are important in helping us to continually
improve our services. We hope that we always meet your needs and receive
the highest possible marks for the care we deliver.
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