Patient
Information
Your Admission to Somerset Hospital
When you come to the Hospital, please bring only a few personal items for your stay-toilet
articles, such as toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, night clothes, robes and slippers.
Please keep eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids and contact lenses in properly labeled
containers in the bedside stand. The Hospital can not assume responsibility for the loss
of personal items or valuables that are left in your room.The Hospital can not be
responsible for money or other valuables kept in your room.
Leave valuables such as jewelry and money at home, or send them home with members of
your family. If you must bring valuables, notify the nursing staff. Staff
nurses
will take your valuables to the hospital safe. Do not bring medications
with you. Your physician will order the medications you are to have while you are in the
hospital.
Financial Arrangements
At the time of admission, you will be asked to provide insurance information. To ensure
that your bill is handled properly, it will be necessary for you to present your insurance
card and any forms which are required by your insurance carrier. If you have signed up
with a managed care insurance, please be sure to inform the registrar. If you are covered
by Medicare, you will need your health insurance card and information relative to
supplemental coverage.
Your insurance company will be billed; however, depending on your specific insurance
policy, you could be responsible for uncovered services, co-pays, deductibles and charges
not paid for by your carrier. If financial assistance is necessary to assist in the
payment of your bill, a financial representative is available to assist you. Somerset Hospital is
required by the Hill-Burton Act to provide uncompensated services to persons eligible
under the Hill-Burton Guidelines. The current guidelines are available from the Financial
Representative. A determination of eligibility will be completed for you, and if you are
within the guidelines, you may qualify for full care or a deduction of allowable charges.
Financial arrangements may be made by calling the Hospital’s Business Office at
814-443-5040 or 1-800-675-9529. If you have further questions about your bill after
discharge, please call the Business Office at 814-443-5040 or 1-800-675-9529.
Physician Fees
Your Hospital bill does not include any fees for the professional services of your
physician, other consultants such as surgeons or, anesthesiologist, radiologist and
pathologist. You will be billed separately for these services.
Your Discharge from the
Hospital
Going Home
Your physician is responsible for giving permission for your discharge. Therefore, it will
be necessary for you to have clothing and arrangements made for transportation on the day
of discharge.
Please plan to check out by 4:00 p.m. A
nurse will inform you or your party if your attention is needed to complete any forms,
however, most paper work is completed upon admission. When you are discharged, the nursing
unit will call the escort service to assist you to your car. Make certain you remove all
personal belongings from your room.
Discharge
Planning
Our Outcomes Management Team meets everyday
to assist in making plans in advance for your discharge. Together we can
assist you and your family members with any needs you may have following
your stay here in Somerset Hospital. If you are in need of an extended
care or long-term care facility, durable medical equipment, home health
care or other rehabilitation services, a member of the outcomes management
team can help with the arrangements. There is no extra charge for this
service and all information is kept in strict confidence.
Ask your nurse about our discharge planning
service or feel free to call us at 443-5108. Anticipating your needs at
home is important - Let us help!
Somerset Hospital Home
Health
Today’s health care delivery system makes it necessary for many patients to
recuperate from an illness or an injury in the home setting. The "move" from
hospital to home for the convalescing process provides a more comfortable and appropriate
environment for patients, and in turn, assists in keeping health care and insurance costs
down - a two-fold benefit to patients of Somerset Hospital Home Health. Additionally, as a
service of Somerset Hospital, our program brings the same quality hospital-like care right
to you by simply calling 443-4663.
Somerset Hospital Home Health provides a comprehensive range of health care services to
patients in their home: Skilled Nursing Care, Occupational Therapy, Medical Social
Worker, Enterostomal Therapist, Mental Health Nursing, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation
Nursing , Speech Pathology, Home Health Aide, Intravenous Therapy .
For Your Comfort and
Convenience
Bedside Call System
Your bed and bathroom are equipped with an electronic call system. If you need assistance,
simply push the call button as your nurse has demonstrated. This will turn on a light
above your door and at the nurses’ station. Your call will be answered through the
intercom or by a nurse.
Meals
Your initial meal after admission will be selected from the house menu by the Nutrition
Services Department. You will then receive a daily menu from which you may select your
choices for the following meals. Each menu is carefully developed to provide a variety of
foods to meet your nutritional requirements. The staff will accommodate your selections as
closely as possible. However, it may be necessary to alter your menu selections to meet
the diet ordered by your physician. During your stay, you will be visited by an
associate from the Nutrition Services Department. The Registered Dietitian will be
available to discuss any of your nutritional requirements or related questions.
Guest trays are available to visitors who wish to eat with the patient in his/her room.
Guest trays are provided for a nominal fee. Arrangements for a guest tray can be made
through your nurse. Should you have a question regarding your diet or would like to review
your diet with the dietitian, please call extension 5129.
Smoking Policy
Because there are actual health hazards and potential fire hazards caused by smoking, the
Hospital has developed specific guidelines in order to provide a healthy, safe
environment. Patients and visitors may not smoke within the Hospital.
Television and telephone
rentals
There is a $4.00 charge per day to receive both the television and telephone. Patients are
informed of the charge at the time of registration. If a patient decides at mid-stay they
do not want this service, they should contact Registration at extension 5105.
Making a telephone call
If you wish to rent a phone, please use the following procedures.
To make an outside call:
For local calls, dial 9 + the seven digit number
For long distance, dial 8 + 0 and the complete number to make either a collect or credit
card call.
All long distance calls must be made collect, charged to a credit card, or your home
phone. Patient numbers may not be used for billing. If you have any problems or questions,
call the operator by dialing "0".
Mail and Newspapers
Patient mail is distributed to each nursing unit daily, Monday - Saturday. Mail received
for patients who have been discharged is forwarded to their homes. A complimentary copy of
the "Daily American" is provided with the breakfast trays Monday - Friday.
Newspapers are also available in machines at the main entrance.
Notary Public
If you are in need of a notary public, please
contact the Medical Records Department at Extension 5154.
Chapel
The chapel is located off the South Center Street entrance in order to meet your spiritual
needs. In addition, a chaplain is available upon request. Those patients or families in
need of spiritual guidance can ask the nurse to contact the chaplain.
Things Your Visitors Should Know
Visiting Hours
Although rest is an important part of your treatment, visits from friends and loved ones
are also part of your therapy. However, we do ask that visitors observe the following
guidelines to prevent over tiring you. Please, only two people should visit with a patient
at one time. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
If you are a visitor in:
Three B, Three A, Pediatrics, the visiting
hours are over at 8:00 p.m. Hours are unlimited on Three C.
Maternity - visiting hours are over at 8:00 p.m.
Children of maternity patients may visit during regular visiting hours.
ICCU - visiting hours for ICCU may be obtained from
the nurse in charge. All visitors must pre-register with the nurses in the
waiting area prior to visiting the patient.
NPU - visiting hours are on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.; on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Weekends and holidays: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
The Heritage Gift Shoppe
The Heritage Gift Shoppe is located at the main entrance of the Hospital. It is open
Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Saturday from 12:00 noon - 7:00 p.m. and
Sunday from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. A variety of gifts, cards, personal items, magazines,
candy, snacks, and fresh-cut flowers are available. The Heritage Gift Shoppe is managed by
the Hospital Auxiliary. All proceeds are returned to the Hospital to benefit the patients.
Closed Sundays from June 1 to after Labor Day.
Snack Bar
Inexpensive meals, sandwiches, salads,
desserts and take-out meals are available at the Snack Bar. The Snack Bar is located on
the main floor just off of Heritage Hall. Snack Bar hours are 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday; 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Saturdays; and 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.,
Sundays. In the event the Snack Bar is closed, visitors are permitted to use the vending
machines in the Cafeteria on the first floor.
Vending Machines
Vending machine areas are located in the
Emergency Room entrance, the diagnostic "B" waiting area, the 3A Visitor’s
Lounge and the Cafeteria on the ground floor. These areas are open 24 hours a day and
provide snack food and soda.
Public Restrooms
Infection control prohibits visitors from
using patient bathrooms. Visitor restrooms are located off the main lobby in Heritage Hall
and in Wing A of the Hospital.
Public Telephones
Pay phones are available for your convenience
in the main lobby and the Emergency Room waiting area.
Special Services
Volunteers
Many men and women volunteer their time to provide valuable services for our staff and
patients. Volunteering your time to help friends and neighbors can be very rewarding. To
join our volunteer team, call Volunteer Services at 443-5092.
Ethics Committee
Somerset Hospital is committed to facilitating
the right of the patient to participate in the planning and decision making process
affecting his or her treatment. To assist in this process, Somerset Hospital and the
Medical Staff provide a Medical Ethics Committee. The committee provides guidance to
patients, their families, and hospital staff and physicians making ethical decisions
relative to treatment and care. Your physician, nursing staff and social work services can
provide you information concerning this service.
Advance Directives
The nurse upon admission will be asking you if
you have an advance directive. If you do, we will need a copy to place on your medical
record. If you need additional information on advance directives, the nurse will contact
the social services coordinator to provide you with more information. This service is free
of charge. Any issue concerning non-compliance of the advance directive requirements may
be filed with the Department of Health by calling 717-783-8980.
Lost and Found
The Housekeeping Department should be
contacted in the event any articles are lost or found. They can be reached at extension
5127.
Auxiliary Aids and Services
Auxiliary aids and services are available to
patients with vision, hearing or speech impairments upon request. Please let the nursing
staff know your needs and if you have specific requests.
"In Touch" Hospice
Hospice Services are available through the
Hospital’s "In Touch" Program to patients and their families who are
dealing with terminal illnesses. A trained staff is prepared to assist the special needs
of these patients. Please ask your physician for additional information on the "In
Touch" Program or call 443-5047.
Gifts
Somerset Hospital is a non-profit tax-exempt
Pennsylvania Corporation, and, as such, may receive tax-deductible gifts. Many of our
special educational and service programs have been made possible through the generosity of
donors. Should you or your family wish to make a gift, arrangements can be made by calling
(814) 443-5221. |
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