Patient Handbook
- Advanced Directives
- Charges
- Comment Card
- Consent to Treatment
- Discharge Information
- Ethics
- Fire Safety
- Gift Shop
- Help Line
- Housekeeping
- Infection Control
- Medications
- Ministerial Service
- Patient Lounge
- Patient Rights and Responsibilities
- Personal Belongings
- Recycling Program
- Restricted Personal Items
- Safety
- Secuirty
- Special Services
ADVANCED DIRECTIVES:
If you have a Living Will, Advanced Directives or Power of Attorney for Personal Care, please notify your health care team as soon as possible following your admission.
If you do not have an Advanced Directives and wish to discuss them, please notify your health care team.
CHARGES:
- Television: A television can be rented at a daily rate. There is an initial fee for headphones. Apply at Registration.
- Telephones: A daily rate applies for telephone hookup. The patient is responsible for long distance charges.
- Rooms: You may request accommodation upgrades. A daily rate applies.
- Release of Information: Release of information to insurance companies, lawyers, etc. from the Health Records Department may involve a nominal fee, according to Hospital policy.
- Uninsured Persons: Uninsured persons should check with the Registration regarding costs for services rendered on a per diem basis.
- Preferred Accommodation: Please advise us if you have preferred accommodation (coverage for semi or private). The hospital will strive to meet your requests and encourage you to make use of this service. Registration staff will assist you to complete required forms during and after your stay to ensure payment is convenient.
- Equipment: Some charges may apply for equipment (splints, crutches) taken home on discharge.
- Laboratory Tests: Some charges may be incurred for some uninsured laboratory tests.
COMMENT CARD:
Your feedback is important to us. If you have comments, concerns or suggestions for improvement, please fill out a Comment Card and drop it into the suggestion box. Comment Cards are forwarded to Quality Council.
CONSENT TO TREATMENT:
You may be asked to sign a consent form for certain test, procedures and treatments, including transfusions of blood and blood products. Before signing, ensure you know the benefits and risks of having treatment and the risk associated with not having the treatment. If you want more information or have questions before signing, talk to your doctor. You have the right to refuse treatment but make sure you are fully informed before making your decisions.
DISCHARGE INFORMATION:
We encourage a discharge time of 1100 hrs. This may vary under special circumstances. Please report to the nurse's station and Registration when you are leaving the hospital. Make sure you have all your belongings and hospital cards as well as aftercare instructions, your own medications and prescriptions as needed. It is important that you understand all the instructions about your medications, diet, activity and follow up before you leave.
ETHICS:
Ethics and Values play a role in many of the decisions made in health care. At SBGHC we have an Ethics Consultant and Ethics Committee available for consultation. Situations may arise that challenge the capacity of the health care team to make good decisions. Case consultation may be a valuable resource at these times. Case consultation may be initiated by a request from the physician or any member of the health care team. In conjunction with the health care team, a patient or family member may also request a case consultation. To initiate a consultation, talk to your Physician, Director of Patient Care or ask staff for an ethics pamphlet.
FIRE SAFETY:
Smoking is allowed only in designated areas located outside the building. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act regulations are in effect as of May 31, 2006. This means that smoking is forbidden within 9 metres or 30 feet from external doorways.
Fire exits are clearly marked throughout the building.
In the event that the fire alarm sounds:
Remain calm. Return to your room and await instructions.
Follow the instruction of the SBGHC staff. They are trained in dealing with emergency situations.
Your cooperation is essential. The doors will close.
Patient room and hallway doors will be closed until an "ALL CLEAR" announcement is made on the speaker system. This is normal procedure.
If you should discover a fire:
- Pull the nearest Fire Alarm, if possible.
- Call for assistance immediately.
Fire prevention is everyone's responsibility:
Please report any unsafe conditions you see.
Please note that we do fire drills routinely for your added safety.
GIFT SHOP:
- Chesley: Monday to Friday, 2:00-4:00 pm
- Kincardine: Daily, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, 2:00-4:00 pm, 7:00-9:00 pm
- Walkerton: Monday to Thursday, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Daily 1:30-4:30 pm, Monday to Friday 7:00-8:30 pm
HELP LINE:
There is an installation and monthly charge for this service.
To arrange the service contact Registration.
HOUSEKEEPING:
Patient rooms cleaned on a regular basis. If a housekeeper is needed, please request assistance via nursing. Fresh cut flowers from gardens are strongly discouraged (because of sensitivities, allergies and insects).
INFECTION CONTROL:
What Patients & Visitors need to know about Isolation:
How Infection Spreads
Source:
- People (staff, patients or visitors)
- Contaminated objects (door knobs, phones, sink tap)
Why we place patients in Isolation
- To prevent the spread of infection from patients to others
- To protect patients from infections from others
- Isolation is temporary until the condition is controlled
What visitors can do to stop the spread
- Hand washing is the most important thing you can do to help minimize your risk of infection
- All visitors should wash their hands before they visit a patient and when they leave. Waterless hand wash is available in all areas of the hospital.
- Obey the Isolation signs - please wear mask/gown as instructed. Please ask a nurse before entering an Isolation room.
MEDICATIONS:
You may be asked to bring in your home medications. If you are to continue on a medication not on our formulary, your own medications will be issued to you. You may be asked to arrange for a family member to bring these drugs to the hospital.
You are requested not to self administer medications while in hospital. It is important that the physician knows what medications you are on.
You are responsible upon discharge to ensure you have your home medications and dosette.
Please give all your medication to the nurse. We will return them when you are discharged.
MINISTERIAL SERVICE:
Religious preference is asked on admission by Registration and the nursing staff. You will be placed on a visiting clergy list and the pastor/priest will visit when they visit the hospital.
If the clergy is requested your nurse or family member may contact them for you. If you have no religious affiliation and a visit is desired, please notify your nurse and one will be contacted. Day chaplain visits are available upon request.
PATIENT LOUNGE:
The Patient Lounge is available to all patients and their families. TV, reading material, various games, puzzles and VCR are available for your enjoyment. Consideration should be shown to other patients who may be relaxing in the patient lounge.
PATIENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
It is the belief of the Board of Directors that all patients have the right
- to be treated with dignity and respect
- to privacy and confidentiality
- to have cultural differences respected
- to self-determination and independence
- to be cared for in a safe and secure environment
- to access their clinical records in accordance with provincial legislation and hospital policy.
Patients have the responsibility:
- To be involved in your health care. Speak up if you have questions or concerns about your care.
- To tell a member of your health care team about your past illnesses and your current health condition.
- To bring all of your medicines with you when you go to the hospital or to a medical appointment.
- To tell a member of your health care team if you have ever had an allergic or bad reaction to any medicine or food.
- Make sure you know what to do when you go home from the hospital or from your medical appointment.
PERSONAL BELONGINGS:
Personal care products are not supplied. Please bring toiletries e.g. soap, shaving cream, razor, toothpaste, toothbrush, sanitary pads, and ostomy supplies.
Please bring your own mobility aids (cane, walker), including proper fitting shoes and slippers
All electrical appliances are to be checked by our Maintenance Dept.
Cell phones are prohibited within the hospital.
If the patient is unable to send valuables home, please ask nurse to place in hospital safe for safekeeping.
The hospital and staff are not responsible for items kept at the bedside.
RECYCLING PROGRAM:
SBGHC has a recycling program for all recyclable articles. We ask that all patients and visitors deposit these items in the proper receptacles or ask the nursing staff for help.
RESTRICTED PERSONAL ITEMS:
- Balloons: Because many people suffer from latex allergies, latex balloons are not allowed in the hospital
- Cell Phones: Cell phones are prohibited from hospital premises as they affect heart monitors.
- Scents/Perfumes: Scented products including perfume, colognes. These contain chemicals which cause serious problems for many people especially those with asthma, allergies and environmental illnesses.
- Strongly scented flowers: Other patients may be sensitive.
- Laptop computers: You may bring in your laptop computer but cannot connect through either the Network or telephone lines.
SAFETY
The staff makes every effort to ensure that your stay in hospital is safe
What you can do:
- Do not remove your armband. Your armband is needed to identify you prior to treatments and medication administration.
- Follow instructions of staff. If you have questions, please ask us
- Wear proper footwear to reduce your risk of falls. Ask for assistance if asked to do so. An assessment of your fall risk will be completed on your admission. This may result in precautions to ensure your safety.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Do not clutter room. Articles should be within easy reach, but you should be able to move around your room easily.
What we will do:
- We will tell you if there was an incident involving your care.
- We will regularly review the care we provide to identify opportunities to improve safety.
SECURITY:
- Every effort is made to ensure your safety.
- Hospital staff are identified by picture ID badges.
- Security cameras are placed in strategic locations.
- All the external doors are locked and have an alarm system.
- Please feel free to review our Privacy Poster and Fact Sheet for South Bruce Grey Health Centre
SPECIAL SERVICES
Mail:
Mail is picked up from the post office in the mornings during the week. Patient mail received after discharge will be forwarded to your home. Outgoing mail can be delivered to the Registration and will be taken to the post office in the late afternoon Monday to Friday.
Newspapers:
- Chesley - Owen Sound Sun Times, Toronto Star, The Post
- Durham - The Post
- Kincardine - London Free Press, The Independent and Kincardine News. (Available in the Gift Shop)
- Walkerton - Owen Sound Sun Times and Walkerton Herald-Times are available at registration. The Mildmay Town and Country Crier is available on the medical floor.
Hair Care:
All sites have hair care available. Family members are welcome to make arrangements for hair care.
Telephone:
Dial "O" for long distance charges and Registration staff will assist to make long distance calls. For local calls, dial "9".
A charge of $3.00/day or $40.00/month applies.
Locations
Careers & Volunteers
Media Center