Patient Information
Care Management/Discharge Planning
We have coverage for Case Management from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
to 6:30 a.m. daily. If a case manager is needed immediately, please contact
your nurse or call ext. 8171.
- Care Management Office is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
(except holidays)
- Care Management Office Phone (760) 242-2311 Ext 8356 for messages 24 hours a day
Chapel
Located on the first floor near the main entrance to the medical center,
our chapel is always available to patients, their families and hospital
visitors. The chapel is open during daylight visiting hours. If you would
like to visit the chapel outside these hours, it can be arranged through
your nurse or the administrative coordinator at extension 8171.
Ethics Awareness and Resources
St. Mary seeks to place ethics awareness, resources and processes as close
to the patient as possible. The hospital’s clinical ethics response
team offers consultation to health care professionals, patients and their
families when ethical considerations or personal dilemmas arise. The goal
of the response team is to focus on ethical issues in order to enhance
the quality of care the patient receives and to provide support and guidance
for family members and care providers who are dealing with these troubling
issues. All consultations are advisory in nature.
Fire Alarms
Fire alarms may sound while you are in the hospital; they are loud ringing
bells and flashing lights. When this occurs, we request your cooperation.
Please return to your room and remain there until “all clear”
is announced. Do not use elevators during this time. If there is an immediate
danger, patients and visitors will be directed by hospital staff.
Gift Shop
The auxiliary
gift shop, Sunshine Square, is located immediately past the main lobby. Sunshine
Square carries greeting cards, plants, flowers, convenience items and
gifts. Proceeds from the gift shop and yearly volunteer special projects
are donated to the medical center.
Hours of Operation
Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Going Home (Discharge)
Your physician will decide when you are ready to be discharged and will
advise the nursing personnel. Hospital discharge time is 11 a.m. When
preparing to be discharged, please ask your nurse to help you make arrangement
to pick up any valuables that you may have stored in the hospital safe.
Your nurse will assist you in gathering your belongings and check to make
sure you return home with all items that you had upon arrival to the hospital.
Wheelchair transportation is available within the hospital and to your
car. A responsible adult needs to be available to provide transportation
to your home. A discharge lounge is available for delays in transportation.
Lost and Found
For questions about an item that has been lost or found, please contact
patient relations at extension 8865.
Mail and Flower Delivery
Flowers and any mail addressed to you will be delivered to your room. Mail
received after your discharge will be forwarded to your home address.
Flowers delivered after your discharge will be returned to the florist,
who will then take responsibility for contacting you concerning flower delivery.
Flowers are welcomed in all areas of the medical center except for the
critical care and neonatal intensive care units. It is best to send flower
to a critical care patient after he or she has been transferred to a room
outside the critical care unit.
Medications
Please give your nurse a list of any and all medications you are taking,
including dosage(s) and times. Your nurse will review these with your
physician, who will make a decision on which medication(s) you should
continue to take during your hospitalization. Your nurse will bring your
medication to you as ordered by your physician. All medications you may
have brought with you, including over-the-counter medications, should
be returned home, as they may interfere or interact with tests or medicines
ordered for your treatment. If you must use your own medication from home,
a physician order must be obtained. The medication will then be kept in
the medication cart and given to you by your nurse.
Newspapers
Newspapers may be purchased outside St. Mary emergency entrance. Papers
include the
Daily Press, High Desert Sun, Los Angeles Times and USA Today.
Patient and Family Support Services
Chaplains are available to assist patients, their families and/or significant
others in a variety of situations. Arrangements can be made to contact
your own priest, rabbi or person of faith. Please let your nurse know
if you would like to speak to a chaplain or contact the administrative
coordinator at extension 8171.
Patient Meals
Your meals are a vital part of your medical care. They are prescribed by
your physician and prepared under the supervision of registered dieticians
and food serve professionals. Your menu is available through our interactive
patient TV system. Please go to the “Order My Meals” tab to
select your meals.
If you are on a general diet, you may select the foods you like from our
menu. The meals you choose will generally be for the following day. We
will make every effort to allow you to select your meals on the day of
admission. If for any reason you are unable to complete your menu order,
you will be served the regular menu scheduled for that meal according
to your physician’s orders. If you have any questions about your
diet, please ask a member of our dietary staff to visit with you. Please
let your nurse know if you have questions or comments about your meals.
Patient Relations
Patient Relations Representatives are available to assist you with any
questions or problems you might have during your stay. You may reach your
patient relations representative weekdays from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
by dialing extension 8865. Should the patient relations representative
be out of the office visiting another patient, please leave a message
with your name and room number and a representative will return your call
as soon as possible. After-hours: If immediate assistance is necessary,
please contact the hospital’s administrative coordinator at extension 8171.
Safety
The safety of our patients is of primary concern to the entire staff at
St. Mary. We work to ensure that programs and processes exist that provide
appropriate protection, safety and security for all employees, volunteers,
patients, families, visitors, vendors, medical staff and organization
property. All staff members wear a medical center identification badge.
You should not be approached for tests, meals or any services by anyone
not wearing this badge. Security officers are on duty 24 hours a day,
7 days a week. Should you need the assistance of a security officer, dial
“0” and the medical center operator will contact the security
office for you.
Tobacco Free Campus
St. Mary Medical Center is committed to improving the health of our patients,
staff and community as part of our Healthiest Community goals. To promote
good health and create a healthy community for patients, residents and
staff, St. Mary is a tobacco-free campus.
There is no smoking permitted on campus. We recognize that giving up tobacco
products is difficult, and we are committed to patients, employees and
physicians who need support in their efforts to quit. For information,
ask your nurse about smoking cessation and nicotine replacement, or visit
the American Heart Association for additional resources at www.heart.org.
Medical Social Workers
The care management department at St. Mary is staffed by qualified medical
social workers who are available to help you make practical and emotional
adjustments to changes that you may be experiencing during your time of
illness. Our medical social workers can assist you in many ways, which
can include providing referrals to resources or services, acquiring information,
problem solving, exploring identified needs and providing support. If
you would like to speak with a social worker, please contact your nurse.