Your Admission

Except in emergencies, your doctor will make prior arrangements for your admission to Wallowa Memorial Hospital. When your doctor has planned for you to be admitted to the hospital, it may be necessary to contact your insurance company to ask whether or not a second opinion is required by your insurance plan. Also, to find out whether or not you need to complete any authorization forms prior to your admission.

You may be asked to come to the hospital for preadmission laboratory tests, x-rays, EKGs or pre-surgical education.

Patients who are eligible for Medicare benefits or those of any other federal, state, or local assistance programs should present their membership cards and/or proof of eligibility upon admission.

Our entire staff is dedicated to assuring you receive excellent care as our patient and to care for you in a compassionate and attentive manner. This guide has been prepared to acquaint you with our facility as well as give you information to help make your stay as comfortable as possible. Should you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Advance Directives

Advance Directives (formally known as Living Will) instruct your doctor and the hospital to provide you with no life sustaining procedures should you become terminally ill or injured. Advance Directives speak for you when you are unable to do so. By executing Advance Directives you are making a statement that if you develop a terminal condition, you wish no heroic measures be taken that would serve only to postpone the moment of death. If you are interested in completing Advance Directives you may download this form, or you may contact the Registration or Nursing staff, and they will provide you with the necessary information and documents.

What to Bring

It is best to pack as simply as possible for your hospital stay, however the following items may be useful:

• Personal toilet articles
• Hard soled slippers
• Protective containers for eyeglasses, contact lenses and dentures
• You may also wish to bring reading material

What Not to Bring

The hospital is not responsible for lost or stolen articles or personal items. For this reason, we ask you not to bring valuables, large sums of money, or electrical items such as radios or hairdryers.

Fire Drills

Fire drills are held periodically to ensure that all staff knows procedures to follow in the event of an emergency situation. If there is an alarm, your nurse will assist you in seeking proper shelter.

Gift Shop

Items such as cards, sundries and gifts are available in the Gift Shop. The Gift Shop hours are 9:30am to 2:30pm Monday through Friday.

Hospital Beds

Hospital beds are electrically adjustable. Be cautious as you get in and out of bed and request assistance if you need it. Beds are equipped with side rails which are used on patients when they return from surgery or when medications are administered. If you need assistance the call system is found next to every bed. By pressing the button your nurse will be notified of your need.

Mail and Flowers

Mail and flowers are delivered to your room by a staff member. Your friends and family may send you an email at ceo@wchcd.org, which will be delivered to you while you are in the hospital. Should postal mail arrive after you are discharged, it will be forwarded to your home address. Flowers are not allowed in the Intensive Care/Coronary Care Unit.

Meals

You will receive a menu, which offers choices of entrees with meat, vegetables, salads, desserts, and other items. Entrees prepared without meat are offered on the daily menu and are readily available if you prefer a vegetarian diet.

Patient Satisfaction

The opinions of our patients are very important to us. To help guide improvements in care and services, you may be given a patient questionnaire/survey. We encourage you to complete the survey and let us know how you feel you were treated during your stay.

Smoking Policy

In the interest of better health and safety for all of our patients, and in accordance with the law, smoking is prohibited. Please ask your physician or nurse for further information if needed.

Telephone Service

Telephones are available in each room and there is no charge for local calls. Dial ‘9’, then dial the desired number. Long distance calls may be placed collect, or with a calling card.

Televisions

Televisions are available to patients free of charge as a courtesy of the hospital.

Visitors

Visitors are an important part of your recovery process and daily outlook, therefore there are minimal restrictions. We ask that your friends and family follow our visitation policies:

• Please limit the length of visit so as not to tire the patient.
• Visitors can expect to be asked to leave the room if the patient requires treatment or privacy.
• Please do not leave children unattended.

Visitor Food Service

If your visitors would like to dine with you, our cafeteria is available to purchase a meal. Visitors will be able to choose from nutritious entrees, salads, soups, soft drinks, juices and desserts. The cafeteria hours are: Breakfast 6:30am to 9:30am and Lunch from 10:30am to 1:30pm Monday through Friday. Vending machines are also available in the cafeteria providing soft drinks and snacks.

Going Home

The Discharge Instruction Form given at the time of discharge will contain a detailed list of instructions you will need to follow after you leave the hospital. The instructions have been agreed upon by you and your doctor, your nurses and other health professionals. Should you have any questions about these instructions, be sure to ask your nurse to go over them again with you before you leave the hospital.

Your Bill

The charge for your room accommodations includes nursing services, meals, laundry, housekeeping, utilities and preparing your medical record. Additional charges are made for special services, medications, dressings, laboratory, x-ray and other tests and treatments ordered by your physician. Your bill will not include charges from most consultant physicians, such as Pathologists, Radiologists and your personal physician. They will bill you separately.

If you carry some type of insurance to help cover the cost of medical care, your identification cards and policy numbers, as well as insurance forms, are needed at the time of your admission or before. If you have no insurance coverage, and anticipate some trouble paying your hospital bill, please contact the patient account manager.

If you have questions regarding your insurance coverage or hospital charges, the business office will be happy to assist you. In cases where liability insurance or litigation is involved, the hospital must look to the patient for payment, regardless of the circumstances.

Wallowa Memorial Hospital supports your rights regarding your own health care, including your right to:

• Experience reasonable access to care
• Receive considerate and respectful care with consideration of your personal values and belief systems
• Referral to protective services if you feel at risk for physical or emotional abuse
• Make a decision involving your health care in collaboration with your doctor including:
• Accepting or refusing medical or surgical treatment
• Completing advance directives (Power of Attorney for Health Care) (Oregon Directive to Physicians)
• Choosing a representative to make health care decision
• Receive information necessary to enable you to make health care decisions which reflect your wishes
• Express complaints regarding the quality of care you receive and have those complaints reviewed
• Participate in consideration of ethical issues which arise in the provision of your care
• Receive information about education/research projects affecting your care
• Expect that your privacy and confidentiality will be maintained
• Reasonable practices which promote a secure hospital environment

In response to patients’ rights, Wallowa Memorial Hospital provides care that is within its capacity, its stated mission and philosophy, and applicable law and regulation. For further information, please call at (541) 426-3111.