Your Room

Your Hospital Bed
Hospital beds are electrically operated and your nurse or patient care technician (PCT) will show you how to work your bed properly. Your hospital bed is probably higher and more narrow than your bed at home. The bedside rails are for your safety. They may be raised at night or during the day if you’re resting, recovering from surgery or taking certain medications.

Room Temperature
All rooms in the hospital are centrally heated and cooled. If your room temperature is not comfortable, please notify the nursing staff. It may take a few minutes before you will feel a change in temperature.

Linens
Your linens are provided fresh as necessary. If you need fresh linens at any time, please notify the nursing staff.

Computers
A clinical computer is located in each room for your nurses and physicians to document your medical condition and medications. This computer is not for personal use. Please do not attempt to use it or allow guests to use it.

You may use a personal laptop computer in your room. To access the Internet, simply unplug your telephone and plug in your laptop PC. (Your computer must have a modem and you must have a personal Internet provider to gain access.)

Calling Your Nurse
A button to call your nurse or PCT is located at your bedside. When you press the button, the nursing station is alerted that you need assistance and a light flashes above your door. A staff member will respond to your signal as soon as possible.

During the Night
Please stay in bed after you have been settled for the night. Strange surroundings and sleeping medications may create a hazard if you get out of bed. Use your call button to ask for assistance.

Leaving the Unit
If you want to leave the unit, please check with your nurse first to make sure your physician has given approval. Let the staff know where you can be reached. It is important to stay in your room until your physician has made rounds and treatments have been completed.

Please note that if you leave the hospital building after 9 p.m., the only reentry is through the Emergency Department entrances.

Television
TV is a source of relaxation for some patients, but may disturb others. Please tune your TV to play as softly as possible and place the speaker close to your ear. In addition to many local channels, the Patient Channel includes more than 40 healthcare educational program broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The programs feature patient stories and physician explanations, and replay frequently to provide multiple opportunities for viewing. There is a wise selection of topics, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, cancer, asthma, smoking cessation, and health/wellness.

In the Perinatal Services area, topics such as newborn care, baby basics and parenting are offered in English and Spanish.

Also included in patient rooms is the C.A.R.E. (Continuous Ambient Relaxation Environment) Channel. The C.A.R.E. Channel offers an alternative to commercial television, noise and other often-stressful distractions.

For assistance with your television, please ask your nurse or PCT.