Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Patient & Visitor Information-

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Accommodations

Bathrooms

Your bathroom is equipped with an emergency cord if you need assistance. Pulling the cord signals the nurses' station and summons help to your room.

Beds

Your bed is specially designed to ensure comfort and safety. Each bed contains side rails for your protection; please do not try to lower the rails or climb over them. Don't take unnecessary chances, ask your nurse for help in getting up and out of bed.

Call System

Your nurse will explain the controls for the nurse call system.

Electrical Equipment

You may bring small, battery-powered appliances such as razors and radios. Electrical equipment can be hazardous unless properly grounded, so the use of personal electrical equipment is prohibited. The hospital electrician can approve special equipment as safe. Please ask the unit secretary or nurse on your door to make these arrangements for you.

Housekeeping Services

Our environmental services staff ensures that the hospital provides patients and their visitors with a clean, safe and pleasant environment. We strive to maintain an atmosphere that will benefit the health and well being of our patients, staff and visitors.

Identification Bracelet

Each patient receives an identification bracelet. This bracelet allows hospital personnel to positively identify you. It protects your health and safety. Please keep this bracelet on your wrist throughout your stay.

Medications

Medications should not be brought from home. Your physician will prescribe any necessary medication from the hospital pharmacy. A list of your current medications is helpful. If necessary, we can list the medications for you; your own medications must be either sent home or stored in the pharmacy until your discharge.

Parking

Free parking is provided for patients and visitors in parking lots on the hospital campus.

Patient Confidentiality

You may request a "opt out" status upon admission, or at any time during your stay. "Opt out," means that, by law, we cannot confirm to callers and visitors that you are being treated at the hospital as an inpatient, outpatient or Emergency Room patient. Callers and visitors requesting patient information will not be given your room number or the direct phone number to your room, but you may share this information with friends and family as you see fit. Likewise, you will not receive flowers, mail or other deliveries unless they are addressed specifically to your correct room number. If you have questions, please speak with your nurse.

Pediatric Patients

We understand the special needs of our younger patients, and welcome and encourage parental overnight stays. Feel free to bring your child's favorite toy or comfort item labeled with his or her name. We do everything possible to help comfort and relax our young patients. If there is anything you need, please contact your nurse.

Security

Fire Drills - For your protection, the hospital conducts fire and disaster drills regularly. If a drill occurs while you are here, please remain in your room and do not become alarmed. Our staff is trained in responding to these emergencies.
Valuables - You may wish to keep small amounts of money for newspapers or personal items, but cash and other valuables should be sent home or deposited in the hospital safe.

Smoking Policy

In keeping with our health promotion philosophy and commitment to a clean environment, smoking is prohibited within our hospital. Smoking is also prohibited within 50 feet of all entrances. Onsite smoking is allowed in designated areas only. For patient/ visitor privacy and security, a designated smoking area is located on the first floor, outside of the medical/surgical waiting area. The area features fenced seating and lighting for security. It also includes a hut to protect patients from the elements.

Telephone

A telephone is located at each patient's bedside except in the Intensive Care Unit, Outpatient Center and Emergency Department. To place local calls, dial 9 and then dial the number. Long distance calls may be made by dialing 8-0 followed by the number. Calling cards and prepaid phone cards should dial 9-1-800 followed by the number. Television Televisions are provided in each room for your enjoyment. Television captioning is also available for the hearing impaired. You can activate this feature by pressing and holding the "caption" button on the front of your TV. The word "caption" will appear on the TV screen when it has been activated.

Food/Nutrition Services

Cafeteria

The Cafeteria is open Mon.-Fri., from 7:45 am to 6:45 pm, weekends from 8:00 am-1:30 pm and 5:15 pm-6:30 pm. (The Cafeteria is closed from 10:30 am- 11:00 am and 4:00 pm-4:30 pm.) The Daily Perk espresso shop is open Mon.-Fri., 6:30 am to 5:00 pm.

Dietitian

Bozeman Deaconess maintains a fulltime registered dietitian to help you meet your dietary needs during your stay. If you have questions about your meals or diet, please call ext. 2121.

Guest Meals

Guest meals are available for family and friends and can be purchased in advance in the Cafeteria. Guest trays will be delivered to your room at mealtime.

Meal Service

We take pride in serving you appetizing, nutritious, well-balanced meals during your stay at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. Our menus follow the U.S.D.A. Dietary Guidelines in order to help you recover and maintain better health. These guidelines include eating a variety of foods, with adequate starch and fiber, as well as avoiding excess fat, cholesterol, sugar and salt. Light selections are available. Every effort is made to prepare your foods attractively and as flavorful as possible within the guidelines of the diet ordered by your physician.

Special Needs

If you have special needs, please call Nutrition Services at ext. 1225 for assistance. If your appetite is compromised, we have a light menu available, which includes items such as soup and sandwiches or cottage cheese and fruit.

Vending Machines

Soft drinks and various snack foods are available from vending machines located near the Cafeteria and throughout the facility 24 hours a day.

Hospital Team

Medical Staff

The physician who admits you is responsible for directing your care while you are a patient in the hospital. Your physician, as the coordinator for your treatment program, should be consulted if you have questions about your illness or injury.

Nursing Staff

Nursing care is provided 24 hours a day by a team of professional registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides. A nurse manager is responsible for directing and coordinating nursing care on each unit. Please feel free to contact your nurse or the nurse manager if you have questions or concerns.

Clinical Services Staff

Specially trained staff, in a number of clinical departments of the hospital, are available to assist in your diagnosis and care. These departments include Cardiac Rehabilitation, Laboratory, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, Radiology, Respiratory Therapy and Nutrition Services.

Chaplains

Bozeman Deaconess' chaplains are specially trained to offer emotional support and spiritual counseling to patients and their loved ones. To arrange a visit from one of our chaplains, call ext. 5073. A chaplain is also on-call at all times for emergencies. Ask your nurse to call for you.

Dietitian

Our dietitian can answer questions about your diet and help you understand how to follow your diet when you go home. You can reach our dietitian at ext. 2121.

Discharge Planner

Discharge planners are specially trained registered nurses who are available to assist patients and their families in planning for a patient's needs after discharge. They are also available to help patients and families deal with financial, social and emotional problems that relate to illness and hospitalization. They can provide information about resources and agencies available in the community to help the patient. To reach a discharge planner, dial ext. 1059 or ask your nurse to have the discharge planner visit you.

Housekeeping Staff

Your room is cleaned daily by a member of the housekeeping staff. If there is a housekeeping problem in your room, tell your nurse so it can be taken care of as soon as possible.

Volunteers

You may request a volunteer to stop by your room to run errands, write or mail letters, or bring books, magazines. For volunteer assistance or escort, dial ext. 1232.

Special Services

Advance Directives

Bozeman Deaconess chaplains are available to provide information about advance directives and assist you with advanced care planning, living wills, durable power of attorney for health care or other advanced directives. Advanced directives are documents that state your choices about medical treatment or name someone to make decisions about your medical treatment if you are unable to make these decisions or choices yourself. A living will is a document that tells your physician and family members what life-sustaining treatment you do or do not want at some future time if you are unable to make decisions. A durable power of attorney for health care is a legal document appointing someone else to make health care decisions for you in the event you are incapable of doing so yourself. This is a separate document than the one you might already have that appoints someone to handle your finances. For more information about advance care planning, call the Spiritual Care department at ext. 5073 or ask your nurse to notify a chaplain.

The Gift Shop at Bozeman Deaconess

The Gift Shop has just the gift you are looking for such as fresh flowers, stationery and cards, throws, picture frames, jewelry, candles, baby gifts, body products, home accessories and many other items. The Gift Shop, staffed by volunteers, is open 9:00 am to 4:00 pm weekdays.
Mail and Flowers Mail and Flowers are delivered to patient rooms on weekdays by hospital volunteers. Mail received after you leave the hospital will be forwarded to your home address. Volunteers will be happy to mail letters or read your mail to you. Call ext. 1232 for assistance. Stamps are available for purchase in The Gift Shop near the Highland Park Atrium (across from Outpatient Services).
Medical Records If you are over the age of 18, you may obtain a free copy of your medical record by calling the Medical Records department at ext. 1055. Identification must be provided when records are picked up. A parent's or legal guardian's signature is required to obtain medical records for any patient under the age of 18.

Newspapers

Newspapers may be purchased from machines at the Visitor Entrance, Emergency Department and the Highland Health Park Lobby entrance.

Notary Public

A hospital employee who is a certified notary public is available to come to your room. Ask your nurse to make this arrangement for you. This service is free to you.

Transportation

Transportation for patients and visitors leaving the hospital is available through local cab companies. Volunteers at the Information Desk will assist patients and visitors with calling a cab.

Patient Education Channels

Channels 39 and 41 are the hospital's educational programming. A number of health-related programs are featured including cardiac problems, breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, advance directives, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and relaxation.

Going Home

If your billing and insurance information is complete, it will not be necessary for you to stop at the billing office. If more information is needed or if payment is to be made, hospital staff or a volunteer can escort you to the cashier before you leave the hospital. Often a phone call is sufficient to supply additional information. When you are ready to leave, a member of the hospital staff or a volunteer will escort you to the front entrance and help you into your car.

Day of Discharge

When your doctor decides you are ready to leave the hospital, a discharge order will be written. You may want to make arrangements with a family member or friend to help you when it's time to go home.

Discharge Instructions

When you are ready to be discharged, your doctor and your nurse will give you instructions about post-hospital care. If you have questions about your diet, activities or other matters, please be sure to ask at this time. If you choose to have prescriptions filled at The Bozeman Deaconess Pharmacy at Highland Park, your nurse can fax your prescriptions to the pharmacy in advance so they are ready when you leave.

Personal Belongings

Be sure to take all your belongings. A nurse can suggest what disposable items used during your hospital care can be taken home. If you have placed valuables in the hospital safe, ask your nurse to arrange for them to be brought to you.

Transportation

Transportation for patients and visitors leaving the hospital is available through local cab companies. Your nurse or a volunteer at the Visitor Entrance Information Desk will assist patients and visitors with calling a taxi.

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