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 and Apple Valley Review.

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.