Your admission to the hospital is requested by your physician who is a member of the hospital medical staff. As a patient, your first experience with the staff and services of Emanuel Medical Center will most likely be with our registration office. You will be asked information which is necessary to complete an accurate, up‐to-date file. You will also be asked to sign several forms, and you will be given information about Advance Directives during your admission process.

Advance Directives are documents written in advance of serious illness that state your choices about medical treatment and name someone to make choices for you if you become unable to make decisions (Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare).

It is the policy of Emanuel Medical Center to honor in accordance with law each adult patient’s right to make decisions regarding treatment, including the right to consent to, refuse or alter treatment plans and the right to formulate advance directives which will be honored if the patient becomes unable to make decisions. In compliance with state and federal laws, hospitals are required to provide this information to every patient who is admitted to the hospital.

Questions about medical care at the end of life are very important today because of the ability of medical technology to prolong life. The best way for you to be in control of your medical treatment in such a situation is to record your preferences in advance.

If you have an advance directive, such as a living will or durable power of attorney for healthcare, a copy will be made and placed on your medical record. You do not need an advance directive to receive medical care; however, if you wish to obtain a form while you are hospitalized, please ask your nurse. Should you decide to sign the document while hospitalized, you or your family is responsible for obtaining witnesses other than hospital employees to be present when you sign the forms.

It is our legal duty to protect the confidentiality of medical information about you. We are required to provide you with a Notice of Privacy Practices explaining ways we may use and disclose your health information. This notice will also describe your legal rights and our obligations regarding the use and disclosure of your medical information.

All patients are admitted, rooms assigned, and treatment administered without regard to race, gender, religion or national origin.

You need only a few personal items such as nightgown or pajamas, robe, slippers, and toiletry items (combs, toothbrush, etc.). For your safety, please do not bring electrical appliances other than an electric shaver, and your medical equipment as applicable, i.e., Home CPAP. If you find it necessary to bring a hair dryer, please notify your nurse so the appliance can be approved for safety.

Important Papers You MUST bring:

• Medical Insurance Cards and claim forms
• Picture ID
• Social Security Card
• Name and address of employer
• Name, address and telephone number of closest family member
• List of all medications you are currently taking and any allergies you may have

A wristband will be placed on your wrist to ensure proper identification before you receive medications and/or have procedures performed. It should not be removed until you leave the hospital.

Your room assignment is determined by your physician’s orders, the type of care you are to receive, and the availability of rooms. Once you have reached your room, a member of the nursing staff will assist you in getting settled and will acquaint you with the features located in your room including the call light, lighting, telephone, television, beds controls, and restroom. For your personal safety, a member of the nursing staff will put side rails in place when needed. In addition, we encourage each patient to ask for assistance from the nursing personnel before getting in and out of bed.

A member of our Environmental Staff will check and clean your room daily.

All patient rooms, except in the intensive care unit, are equipped with telephones. For local calls, press the “red button”, then press 9, wait for the tone, then press the desired number. To charge calls to your calling card, press 9, 1‐800 or 1‐888 and the appropriate access code.

Television is offered free of charge. Please keep others in mind and adjust the volume of your TV accordingly. A DVD player is available for patient education.

Please do not hesitate to call your nurse if you need assistance or have questions. Simply press the call button and your call will be answered as quickly as possible.

At the time of your admission, except in emergency situations, you will be requested to make satisfactory financial arrangements for payment of your hospitalization. Collecting your co‐payment or making arrangements for payment reduces billing costs, and honors our contracts with insurance companies. Be sure to bring your claim forms, insurance identification cards, identification card, or any other pertinent information that can be used to determine coverage. Please remember that insurance plans do not normally provide full coverage of your hospital bill. Your coverage is a contract between you and your insurance company, and we will cooperate to the fullest in filing your claim. You, however, are ultimately responsible for your account with the hospital.

If you have verifiable insurance that is acceptable to the hospital, we will mail your insurance company a standard claim form. You are responsible for submitting the claimant’s statement to your insurance representative.

We are sensitive to the needs of all patients, and recognize that exceptions to the foregoing policies will arise. If you think you will have difficulty paying your bill, please let us know at the time of admission so we can assist you in resolving the difficulty.

Suggestions on ways of making financial arrangements or of applying for public assistance may be made to help you finance the hospital care you need by calling the Business Office at extension 151.

Please retain a copy of your hospital bill for annual filing of your major medical insurance, and retain all receipts for filing of your income taxes. The hospital cannot provide cumulative payment information for each patient at the end of the year for income tax purposes.

Mail and flowers addressed to you will be delivered to your room. Mail received after you have been discharged will be forwarded to your home address. Flower deliveries to patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will be held at the nurses’ desk and not delivered to the patient’s room, per Hospital policy.