| Thank you for choosing us
as your healthcare provider. Below are some things
you may be wondering about. |
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| You Will Be
Asked Many Questions… |
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It may seem you are asked the same
questions repeatedly. In particular, you will
be asked for your name and birth date every time you
are given a drug or any kind of treatment. Please
know that this is an important nursing standard designed
to keep you safe. |
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| Tell Us About Your Pain |
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You have the right to treatment of pain during all
aspects of your care. We are committed to working with
you and your family to help manage your pain effectively.
We believe that you are the expert on your pain so:
- Ask for pain relief when your pain first begins.
- Help your doctor or nurse by describing your pain,
specifically.
- Tell your doctor or nurse if your pain level is
not relieved or acceptable.
- Talk to your doctor or
nurse about your pain relief options and what results
you may expect.
Tell your doctor or nurse about any concerns you have
about taking pain medicine. |
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| Private Rooms |
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Your room assignment is based upon your admitting diagnosis
and the bed availability on the day of your admission.
We will certainly give you a private room if one is available. |
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| Phones & TV |
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Each room has a free TV and free local phone service. |
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Room Service |
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We are very proud to offer our patients room service
that allows you to order “what you want, when you
want it.” Your meal will be brought to you
in 45 minutes or less. There is no charge for these
diet-appropriate meals. We also offer guest trays
to friends and family members, and their meal can be
delivered right along with yours. Coupons for guest
meal trays may be purchased in the Café. |
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| Cell Phones |
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Cell phones emit radio frequencies that can disrupt
medical care by interfering with electronic equipment.
They can activate or turn off alarms on monitors, cause
ventilators to shut down or deliver the wrong amount
of gas or cause infant warmers and incubators to overheat.
To reduce the potential risk of medical equipment malfunctions,
the use of cellular phones is not permitted within twenty
(20) feet of critically monitored patients. Cellular
phones may be used in public areas, in offices and at
nursing stations. |
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| Oxygen |
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Special regulations are in effect in areas where
patients are receiving oxygen. Electrically operated
equipment, battery-operated devices, aerosol products
and items that produce a static discharge are not permitted
in these areas. |
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| Balloons |
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Latex balloons can cause allergic reactions in some
people. They are also a choking hazard for children.
For these reasons, they are not allowed in the hospital.
Mylar (foil) balloons are a safe alternative. |
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| Wheelchairs |
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Wheelchairs are available on all nursing units, but
getting in and out of them without assistance may be
hazardous. Please ask for help from a member of the hospital
staff. |
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| Smoking Policy |
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Valley Hospital & Medical Center
is a smoke-free environment. Smoking is allowed outside
in posted areas only and in accordance with state law.
If you have any questions, please check with your nurse.
If you want to leave your room to smoke, please consider
the following:
- You must be able to leave the unit by walking or
via wheelchair.
- You may not ask hospital staff to transport or supervise
you.
If you cannot leave your room to smoke, the following
options are available to you:
- You can decide to stop smoking during your hospitalization.
- Your
doctor can prescribe medications that reduce or eliminate
smoking “withdrawal” symptoms, such as a nicotine
patch or gum.
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| Progress Reports |
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We will update patients on their condition,
and they can choose to share information with family
members/significant others. For a patient unable to share
or understand information, please select a spokesperson
to be responsible for informing other family members/significant
others of the patient's progress. Let your nurse know
how to reach the spokesperson at all times. Disclosure
of the patient's condition may be restricted due to confidentiality
concerns. |
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| Identifying Employees and Volunteers |
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All employees and volunteers wear an identification
badge that includes their name, picture and department.
Caregivers will identify themselves and tell you what
they are going to do before they give care or treatment.
Do not hesitate to ask them who they are or what they
are doing. |
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| Mail and Flowers |
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Our hospital volunteers deliver the mail and flowers.
If we should receive mail or flowers for you after you
are discharged, we will contact you and make every effort
to get these items to you. |
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| Spiritual Care and Chapel |
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The Pastoral Services Department provides
care and support for patients, families and staff 24
hours a day, seven days a week. Our hospital staff chaplains
offer pastoral care to individuals of all faiths or of
no particular faith at all. Specific denominational affiliation
is not required to use our services. Press "0" and
the hospital operator will page a chaplain for you. A
non-denominational chapel is open for patients, families,
and staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The chapel
offers a quiet place for families and staff to gather,
collect their thoughts and discuss personal matters with
one another. The entrance to the chapel is located on
the first floor near the Café. |
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| Parking |
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The parking lots are monitored 24 hours
a day by security guards, but the hospital cannot be
responsible for theft or damage done to a vehicle while
in one of our lots. Patients who have driven to Valley
Hospital and Medical Center and plan to keep a vehicle
on the premises during their stay are asked to secure
the vehicle and contact Security at 2007, who will record
the vehicle make and model, registration plate number,
expected length of stay and the area where the vehicle
is parked. Please
take note of reserved parking areas for medical staff
and handicapped individuals. |
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| Security Escort Service |
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If your family leaves the hospital late
at night and would like an escort to their vehicle, dial
extension "2007" or contact your nurse. |
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| Financial Arrangements |
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During your hospital stay, a Patient
Advocate may come to your room to collect your co-pay
or deductible. If more convenient, you or a family
member can visit the Patient Advocate’s desk,
located next to the Admitting office on the first floor
of Valley Hospital & Medical Center. If the
Patient Advocate’s
office is closed at the time of your discharge, a statement
of your account will be mailed to your home address.
The Patient Advocate’s hours are 8:00 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.
You may settle your account by any of the following
means:
- Valid major credit cards - Visa, American Express,
or MasterCard
- Cash
- Debit Card
- Personal Check
- Money Order
Please contact our Patient Accounts office at 473-4791
if you have questions regarding payment of your account
or hospital charges or if you are unable to pay your
deductible at this time. Medicaid patients do
not have deductibles, but most insurances do.
After you are discharged from the hospital you will
receive a summary statement of your account for your
hospital services. You will receive a separate bill
from your physician and could receive other bills,
depending on the services provided. Payment of your
hospital bill is your responsibility. Valley Hospital & Medical
Center will file your insurance claims as a service
to you. However, you may have a deductible or
co-pay and you would be responsible for that. If your
insurance company does not pay within 60 days, you
may be billed for the full balance due. Any payment
that is your responsibility is expected to be paid
in full upon receipt of your statement.
In an effort to support the communities we serve,
Empire Health Services (EHS) has a discount policy
for patients who do not have insurance or other means
of health care coverage. EHS will provide Charity Care
to the patients in our community who are not eligible
for other funding such as insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid
and whose income meets the poverty guidelines set in
place by the Federal Government and State of Washington.
We also honor community benefit programs such as Project
Access.
We are more than happy to answer any questions and assist
you in applying for Charity Care. Please call our Patient
Advocate at (509) 473-4791 for more information. |
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| Have a Concern? |
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If you have a concern or complaint, we
want to respond as quickly as possible, preferably while
you are still in the hospital. Feel free to talk
to the manager of the unit you are on or dial “0” and
ask for the Administrative Supervisor. More
information |
