A team of health care professionals -- including physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, social workers and others -- will work together to care for you during your stay.  

Our goal is to involve you in as much of your treatment and recovery as possible, and to fully prepare you for a smooth transition from hospital to home. 

Ask questions! 

Research shows that patients who get more involved with their health care can greatly improve the safety of their care.

 Pain Management

 While you are a patient at the hospital, you may experience discomfort or pain. It may be due to disease, surgery or a procedure. Your health care team will work with you to keep you safe and as comfortable as possible. The following information may help you prepare and understand how we work together to get you back to health.

ID Bracelets 

When you were admitted, a plastic identification bracelet was placed on your wrist. It notes your name and other information that allows hospital staff to identify you at all times, whether you are awake or asleep. Check to make sure that your name is spelled correctly. During your stay, staff members will check your identification bracelet before they give medications or perform any tests. Please do not remove your identification bracelet until you leave the hospital. 

Calling Your Nurse 

A button to call your nurse is located at your bedside. When you press the button, a staff member will respond to your signal as soon as possible. Our goal is to keep you safe during your stay. If you require assistance, we ask that you use your call button to notify staff. For assistance during the night, please use your call button. Strange surroundings and medications may create a hazard if you get out of bed. 

Food Service

While we realize that nothing may taste quite like home cooking, our professional Nutrition Services staff makes every effort to ensure that your meals will be tasty and nutritious. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. You may also ask your nurse or hospitality assistant for a snack or beverage during the day. If a family member or friend wants to eat in your room, a guest meal tray can be delivered to your room. 

Medicine 

All medicine you take while in the hospital are prescribed by your doctor, dispensed by the hospital pharmacy and administered by your nurse. Patients are not permitted to administer their own drugs or keep personal medications their bedsides. 

Your Bed 

Hospital beds are electrically operated, and your nurse will show you how to work your bed properly. Your hospital bed is probably higher and narrower than your bed at home. Bedside rails are for your protection. They may be raised at night or during the day if you’re resting, recovering from surgery or taking certain medications.

Room Temperature  

Please let us know if you are too hot or cold. We can get you extra blankets 

Bathing 

The nurse or nursing assistant can help each morning with your bath or shower. Based on your ability to participate, you will be involved in your own care. Gowns are provided but undergarments are not. If you need a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, or other toiletries, please ask your nurse. 

Hand Hygiene 

Hand cleaning is important because nationwide, 2.5 million patients annually get infections while they are in the hospital. Germs that cause infections can be spread a number of ways. The most common is through hands. Proper hand cleaning removes germs from the hands and helps protect you from infection. As a partner in your health care, you should ask your doctors, nurses and any other hospital worker who enters your room if their hands are clean. 

Discharge 

You will be ready to leave the hospital when your attending physician determines that you no longer require inpatient care. Before discharge, your doctor and nurse will provide you and your family with information and instructions about your post-hospital care Discharge planning services actually begin when you are admitted. A care manager will meet with you to gather information and discuss post-discharge care options, ensuring that you and your family members actively participate in your discharge plan. Should extended care or nursing home placement be necessary, we will assist you in any way we can.