While you're here

Room and Nurse Assignments

You are assigned a room based on your diagnosis, how sick you are, and which hospital beds are available. All rooms are private, except a few suite rooms. A registered nurse (R.N.) will be assigned to your care. The R.N. may also have another nursing staff member, such as a licensed vocational nurse (L.V.N.) or a certified nursing assistant (C.N.A.), help with your care.

Students from the Maurine Church Coburn School of Nursing use the hospital as a clinical training facility. Please let your nurse know if you do not want a nursing student to participate in your care.

If you need anything, push the call button at your bedside to talk to a member of our nursing staff through a handheld speaker.

You may be transferred to another room or nursing department if your condition changes or if you need a higher level of nursing care. Transfer to another facility may be necessary if you need services we do not provide.

Please discuss questions or concerns about your room or nurse assignment with the manager of the nursing unit.

Interpreter Services

The hospital has access to interpreter services for the deaf and in 140 languages for non-English-speaking persons 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have any problem with our interpreter services, call Nursing Administration, 4711.

A TDD phone for the deaf is available on request.

Television

Television is available at no charge in all patient rooms except in the Intensive Care Unit and on Garden Pavilion. Using the channel selector on your remote control, you can turn on the television, select channels, and turn off the television after passing channel 66. There is a volume control on the side of the remote. Earphones are available.

Patient Education Channels

Patient education programs are shown on channels 63, 64, and 65. Ask your nurse for other channel information.

Problem Solving

Patients come first at Community Hospital. It is important that you and your family members share any concerns with us about your stay. The manager of your nursing unit is here to help, as are the assistant manager and administrative supervisor.

For minor or immediate problems, please talk to your nurse or the charge nurse. The nursing manager will follow up on all complaints.

Pain Management

Managing your pain is an important part of your care. Pain management begins with the belief that you should have access to the best level of pain relief that may safely be provided.

Our goal is to implement a pain management plan tailored to you. We believe pain management should be a combined effort between you, your healthcare team, and your family/significant other.

Ethics

You or your representative (friend, family member, or other person designated by you) may wish to participate in a discussion of ethical issues related to your care. This can be accomplished through the hospital’s Bioethics Committee. All issues of this nature are held in strict confidence. Contact your physician(s), nursing manager, or Nursing Administration for help with this process.

Your Medical Record

You have a right to have your medical information kept confidential. We want you to know we take this responsibility seriously.

Only members of our healthcare team who need information to perform their duties and people to whom you have specifically granted permission have access to your medical record.

You may review your medical record, except in certain situations.

Please call the Health Information Management department, (831) 625-4577.

Keeping Things Quiet

You need a quiet environment for healing and rest. Please let your nurse know if it is too noisy. We will make every effort to reduce the noise.

If the noise problem is not resolved, you can call the Patient Hotline by dialing “0” and asking to speak with a hospital administrator. He or she will respond as quickly as possible.

Let Us Know What You Think

Your satisfaction is important to us, so please ask your nurse for a Patient Opinion Survey for you to complete and return at your convenience.

Medications

The hospital Pharmacy staff wants to be sure you use your medications safely and correctly. While you are here, your medications will be supplied by the Pharmacy to be sure you receive the correct medication in exactly the dose you need.

A list of medications you are taking at home is helpful to your doctor. Please bring in a list of the prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and herbal remedies you are taking at home.

Your doctor will decide which medications you should take while you are in the hospital. Please do not bring medications from home.

The Pharmacy will store any medications you do bring until you go home.

Your doctor may prescribe new medications for you to take home.

You have a choice of having these prescriptions filled at your local pharmacy or at the hospital Pharmacy. Please be aware that Medicare does not pay for medications ordered at discharge for you to take home.

Nutrition

Nutrition therapy is an important part of your care, and your diet is prescribed by your doctor. For most diets, you will receive a menu so you can choose your food selections. A tray-passer will deliver meals to your room and can help you prepare for your meal or take care of special food requests. If you get hungry or thirsty between meals, snacks are available from the pantry on each nursing unit.

If you miss a meal, room service is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. by dialing 4939. If you would like a guest tray, call room service one hour before mealtime; there is an additional charge.

For more information, refer to the folder, “Food Service for Our Patients and Guests” that will be located by your bedside.

Registered dietitians are responsible for your nutritional care. Dietitians and diet technicians are available to answer your nutrition questions, evaluate your nutritional needs, and assist you with food selections.

Warning: Drinking beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages during pregnancy can cause birth defects.

Contact With the News Media

Sometimes the circumstances that bring a patient or his or her family to the hospital generate interest from the media and the public.

Rest assured, our first responsibility is to you and your family.

Upon admission, each patient is given the opportunity to grant or deny the hospital permission to release information, including the patient’s name and a one-word description of your condition.

If you choose not to have information released, a hospital representative will help you understand the impact of that decision on family and friends. We will do our utmost to protect your privacy.

The hospital’s ability to protect your privacy and that of all our patients depends on you immediately notifying the Communication and Marketing department if you have been in contact with the media (a reporter, photographer, or TV crew). Photographers and TV cameras are not allowed on hospital property without clearance from the Communication and Marketing department, which can be reached at (831) 625-4505.