Thank you for choosing Long Beach Medical Center for your medical care. Throughout your hospital visit, your doctor will manage your care in cooperation with a team of many other health care professionals. We invite you to be an active partner in your care by communicating often with your health care team and speaking up with any questions and concerns you may have.
What To Bring:
For your stay in the Hospital, we suggest you bring only the essential toilet articles, pajamas or nightgowns, slippers, and robe. Electrical appliances such as electric hair dryers or rollers and heating pads are not permitted. You may, however, bring an electric razor or battery operated radio. Dentures, hearing aids & eyeglasses, when not in use, should be kept in protective containers as the Hospital cannot be responsible for the loss or breakage of such items.
Valuables:
We ask that jewelry, credit cards, and other valuables be left at home as we cannot assume the liability for such items. If you are unable to send the items home, we request that you deposit them in our Hospital safe until your discharge. Valuables can be claimed directly from the cashier between 7:30 am - 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday. After hours or on weekends, the Nursing Supervisor can provide assistance in returning your valuables.
Registration:
Each patient is registered through the Admitting Office where an admitting history is taken. You will be asked a number of questions. If the routine seems unnecessary at times, we ask your indulgence. You may be asked to sign a Release of Information Form and an Assignment of Benefits Form. These forms will be sent to your insurance company so they may process a claim for payment of insured costs directly to the Hospital. For information on insurance coverage, please click here.
Advance Directives:
You have a right to have your wishes regarding your care and treatment honored, even when you cannot speak for yourself. Advance Directives are documents that can help you and your family in the event that you do become that ill. Information concerning your rights to make health care decisions (“Making Decisions About Your Medical Care") and to execute Advance Directives will be given to you upon admission. To view this information prior to you’re admission, please click here. [Need to scan this packet of info.]
Consent For Treatment:
By coming to the Hospital, patients are consenting to basic diagnostic and treatment procedures as appropriate for their condition. This is commonly known as “implied consent.” However, certain medical procedures will require your further informed consent. For example, if surgery is needed, an Informed Consent for Surgery is to be signed in consultation with the surgeon.
Your doctor(s) will discuss with you (or your parent/legal guardian, if a minor) the possible need (and risk factors) for treatments, operations, or special tests.
If you do not fully understand why and to what you are consenting, ask your doctor for more information and if necessary, more time to decide. You can refuse treatment at any time. The doctor cannot treat you without your consent to procedures that involve certain risk factors, unless it is an emergency where your life or health is in serious jeopardy and immediate action is necessary.
Food and Nutrition:
Our Food and Nutrition staff makes every effort to ensure that your meals are nutritious, tasty and are served promptly. A member of the Nutrition Department staff will assist you with menu selections each day, based upon the dietary requirements your doctor has ordered. Mealtimes start at 7:30 am, 11:30 am, and 4:30 pm. If you observe kashruth, you may request kosher meals by notifying your nurse, asking the dietitian or contacting the diet office at Ext. 1184.
Guest Meal Tray:
Visitors wishing to eat in the patient's room may order a guest meal tray. The meal must be ordered and paid for in advance by contacting the cashier in the dining room. The guest meal tray will be delivered to the patient's room at the same time the patient's meal is delivered
Telephone/Television:
To arrange for patient telephone and television rental service in your room, please call ext. 1244. There is a daily rental charge of $4.75 for telephone and $5.25 for television which will be collected by our TV/Phone representative. For those who have difficulty hearing, amplifiers are available at no extra cost.
All outgoing calls which are outside the local calling area will be billed to your home telephone account. Cell phones are prohibited from use in the Medical Center in all patient care areas. Public telephones are located throughout the Hospital and in the lobbies.
Infection Prevention:
Hand hygiene is the single most important procedure that is performed in hospitals for preventing the spread of infection. We ask that you join our team as a partner in your care by asking your doctor, nurse and all other health care workers who enter your room, “Did you wash your hands?” before they have any direct physical contact with you or things that are used in your care. Our staff will expect this question, so please do not feel embarrassed to ask.
Your Safety
Long Beach Medical Center places great importance on your safety. For your protection, please follow these suggestions:
- At your bedside you will find a nurse call button to insure prompt attention if you need assistance at any time.
- It is important that you remain in bed after you have been given sleeping medication and prepared for the night. Always call your nurse for assistance if you need to get up.
- Ask to have objects such as bedside tables, phone and call bells within easy reach.
- Your hospital bed is probably not as wide as the one you are accustomed to. They are equipped with electric controls so they can be readily raised or lowered as indicated for your needs.
- Please allow the nursing staff to utilize side rails on your bed. They are there for your protection.
- Always sit-up and stand slowly to avoid lightheadedness.
- Please ask for help if you feel weak or dizzy when you get up.
- Always wear protective, non-slip shoes or slippers when out of bed.
- Please use the call bell in the bathroom if you become weak or need assistance back to bed.
- Kindly notify the staff if a spill occurs.
- If you are required to wear glasses or hearing aids, or use other assistive devices such as a cane, walker or wheelchair at home, please use them while a patient.
- For patients who are at high risk for falls, Long Beach Medical Center institutes a Fall Prevention Program that alerts hospital staff to the special needs of these patients.
- Long Beach Medical Center will occasionally perform drills for our staff to ensure your maximum safety. Do not be alarmed if one occurs during your hospital stay.
We Are a Smoke Free Campus:
As a leader in wellness and disease prevention, Long Beach Medical Center has established a smoke free campus which extends to both indoor and outdoor areas, including all grounds, parking lots and walkways. The Medical Center views itself s a role model and educator of healthy behaviors and is committed to leading by example. If you or someone you know wishes to quit smoking, the Medical Center offers free Smoking Cessation programs on an ongoing basis. For information, contact FACTS at 516 897-1250.
Telephone Inquiries Concerning Patient’s Condition:
The patient’s physician is responsible for providing information on the patient’s course of treatment, progress, results of tests, etc. Please contact him/her for this type of information. However, if the patient does not object, you may call the nursing station of the patient’s unit. The RN caring for the patient will be happy to speak with you regarding general information such as appetite, sleeping patterns, activity, and tests completed. You may call the units between the hours of 9 am - 9 pm. At all other times please direct your calls to the Nursing Supervisor.
Spiritual Care:
Catholic and Jewish clergy make several visits weekly and conduct religious services on holidays. If you wish to see your personal clergyman, please advise your nurse, who will make the necessary arrangements for spiritual consultation. Please click here for additional services available to our observant Jewish patients.
Interpreter Services:
Patients who speak a language other than English are able to communicate with staff utilizing telephonic translation services, family members or bilingual employees. If you have difficulty speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language, or are hearing impaired, please inform us. You are entitled to receive free interpreter services.
Spanish:
Si Ud. tiene dificultad hablando, leyendo, escribiendo o comprediendo ratuitos de un intérprete.
OTHER SERVICES
Gift Shop:
A Hospitality Shop, in which many items are available for you and your visitors' convenience, is located in the main lobby. Stationery, toiletries, and other sundry items may be purchased from the shop.
Flowers in bud vases, fresh and artfully designed, are also available for purchase through the gift shop.
Coffee Shop:
The Hospital's beautifully decorated coffee shop, Café by the Bay, utilizes a hi-tech vending operation to permit visitors to enjoy a meal or snack 24 hours per day. It is located in the Main Lobby of the Hospital.
Mail and Flower Delivery:
Mail is delivered each weekday morning. Flowers, telegrams, and packages are delivered as soon as they arrive.
Newspapers:
Patients can call Ext. 1180 to place an order for a newspaper.
Volunteers:
A select group of community-minded individuals, men, women, and teenagers, freely give of themselves to our Medical Center and to our patients. They perform a broad range of services for our patients, including:
Friendly Visiting:
Volunteers provide an additional support system to the patient. Friendly Visitors are trained to listen as well as talk to the patient, to maintain confidentiality at all times, and to bring cheer and encouragement to patients.
Recorded Books:
An extensive library of cassette tapes, provided by the SJK Foundation, is available for patient use. This listening therapy program is beneficial to patients who are legally blind, temporarily handicapped, are not able to concentrate, or do not have the patience to read.
Library Cart:
A library cart is available with a selection of books and magazines. Craft projects are also available.
Sabbath Candles & Jewish Prayer Books:
Electric Sabbath candlesticks and prayer books are available, enabling Jewish patients to practice their faith while hospitalized. For additional services for our observant Jewish patients, please click here.
If you have not had the opportunity to obtain any of the above listed services, please call the Volunteer Department on Ext. 1180.