Patient Handbook

Patient Care Handbook

Our multidisciplinary staff is here to help you and your family. They are highly skilled professionals, trained to assist you in your recovery. Our patient care teams work with you and your physician to provide a plan of care individualized to your unique needs. As a result, you receive the best possible care from our team of caregivers.

Case Management

Each person admitted to a Triumph Hospital is assigned a Case Manager. The Case Manager will contact you within two to three working days after your admission to gather information regarding your resource needs and future discharge planning needs. The Case Manager will advise you of an estimate of how long you will probably be an inpatient at Triumph. If during your stay here, you would like to meet with the treatment team, the Case Manager will be glad to set up a conference. Prior to discharge, the Case Manager will help coordinate referrals to community resources, such as home healthcare, durable medical equipment, hospice, nursing homes and assisted living, to name just a few.

Your Opinion

Your satisfaction is so important, we actually measure it. Near or at discharge, you will receive a survey from your Case Manager. You will be asked to rate your satisfaction with Triumph Hospital. Since your opinion counts, we hope you will take a few minutes to answer the questions on the document. If you need assistance in completing the survey, your Case Manager can assist you and your family. Our goal is for you to be very satisfied during your hospital stay with us.

If for some unforeseen reason, our staff is unable to help you or if you need to express a concern please ask for your Case Manager, the Nursing Supervisor, or for Nursing Administration.

Our goal is to take care of your individual needs. We welcome suggestions that can help improve our hospital safety.

Valuables

Please do not bring valuables with you to the hospital. You are responsible for lost personal valuables. If you cannot send your valuables home for safekeeping with your family, we suggest you place these important items in the hospital safe. Ask your caregiver it this service, if available.

Medications from Home

If any medications are required during your hospital stay, your doctor will prescribe them. They will be filled by our pharmacy. Please bring a list of all medications that you are currently taking. You are encouraged to leave all medications at home or give to a family member to take home. In the event that you brought any medication of your own and have no way of getting it back to your residence, please give it to a nurse who will put it in a safe place until you are discharged.

What You should Bring

You should bring loose-fitting clothing as well as sturdy, low-heeled shoes or sneakers for participation in rehab therapies, as well as undergarments, socks, nightgown/pajamas, robe as needed. Please remember to bring any personal items suich as eyeglasses, hearing aids, cosmetics and toiletries. All personal belongings should be labeled with your name.

Copies of insurance cards and legal documents such as a living will and/or advanced directives for medical care and medical power of attorney also should be brought and presented to your Case Manager.

Pet Visitation

Pet visitations are limited to domestic cats and dogs and must be approved by your physician and coordinated by a Manager. The pet that is visiting must have a Triumph Veterinary Clearance Form with proof of vaccinations on file. No clearance will be done on weekends or holidays. Only one animal may visit at a time.

Functions Within Your Room

Your Bed
Your bed is electric. The controls for the bed for patient use are located on the side rails and on the foot of the bed. Your nurse will orient you to the bed controls.

All RED electrical outlets are Emergency Power switches and can be used at anytime.

Patient Owned/Rented Equipment
If you have any electrical appliances that you have brought from home, it must meet the following requirements:

The appliances must be UL approved.
The appliance MUST be checked out by the Maintenance/Engineering Department prior to use. Contact your nurse and have them call Maintenance for you.
Televisions and desktop computers from home are not allowed to be used in the facility. Laptop computers are acceptable, but still need to be checked by Maintenance.
All patient owned/rented equipment must be approved by Maintenance as well.

Your Bathroom
You have an emergency nurse call switch. IF YOU NEED HELP WHILE YOU ARE IN THE BATHROOM JUST PULL DOWN ON THE STRING. This will activated a light at the nurse’s station signaling the need for assistance, and a staff member will respond in person.

If something in your room is not operating as we have described, please call the Nurses Station and they will dispatch Maintenance to repair or replace it.

Smoking Policy

Triumph Hospitals are smoke-free hospitals. Because of our concern for the health of our patients, visitors and staff, Triumph prohibits the use of smoking materials throughout the hospital.

Smoking is also prohibited at all entrances to the hospital. Hospital associates are authorized to enforce this policy or seek assistance from security if necessary.

REMEMBER: The single most important thing you can do for your current and future health is to stop smoking.

Mail and Flowers

Cards and flowers sent by your family and friends to make your stay better are brought to your room daily. Live plants and flowers are not allowed in the ICU/MOU. If the hospital receives your mail after you are discharged, we will forward it to you. Flowers delivered after you leave the hospital, however, are returned to the florist.

Personal Appliances

For reasons of safety, no personal electrical appliances such as hair dryers, hot curlers, radios, televisions, desktop computers or heating pads are permitted in patient areas, unless approved by nursing administration and safety check by maintenance or biomed. Such items can be dangerous in a hospital setting and may not be compatible with services provided by the hospital.

Financial Arrangements

During your stay if you have any financial questions please ask your Case Manager to assist you. If you have any questions about your bill after discharge, please contact the Central Business Office at 1-88Triumph 2 or 713-807-8686 and ask for Billing Customer Service. We understand that private insurance, as well as Medicare procedures, can be complex and sometimes confusing.

Discharge

When you are ready to go home, your doctor will write your discharge order. Before you go, remember to ask your doctor, nurse or therapist about special diets for your condition, your medication and activity expectations.

Be sure to check your room for personal belongings. Find out if there are any prescriptions that you should take home with you. Although the hospital pharmacy does not fill prescriptions for patients being discharged, there are several independent pharmacies located near the hospital.

Passes

Triumph Hospital is an acute care hospital, therefore, passes are not allowed during your stay here. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your Case Manager.

Advanced Directive, Power of Attorney/Living Will

Many patients and families have questions about these documents. In your packet you will find information regarding these documents. If you have questions regarding the completion of these forms, please contact the Case Manager who will be glad to assist you. Notary services are usually available Monday through Friday, at Triumph Hospital. The Case Manager can assist you in obtaining notary service.

Additional Services/Treatments

Rehabilitative Services

The following services are available with a physician’s order. A patient or family member may request services to be ordered by a physician to improve the patient’s functional level or promote maximum rehabilitation potential.

Occupational Therapy – This service is for patients needing assistance with activities of daily living including bathing, dressing and eating. Our Occupational Therapist also may give you training on equipment that will help you better perform these activities.

Physical Therapy – This service is for patients needing assistance with functional mobility including: getting out of bed, walking, improving strength and balance. Our Physical Therapist may give you training on equuiupment that will help you better perform these activites.

Speech Therapy – This service is for patients needing an evaluation and treatment plan for improving your ability to communicate, problem solve and reason. Speech Therapists also may address problems with swallowing disorders.

Respiratory Care

All patients admitted requiring mechanical ventilation will be placed on a hospital ventilator, including patients being admitted on a ventilator from home.

Pastoral Care

Being in the hospital can be a time of great spiritual need. If requested, your Case Manager can assist you in contacting your spiritual representative.

Hearing Impaired

We have a resource to contact through the Case Management Department should you need a signer for the deaf or hearing impaired. Special equipment, such as an amplifier for your phone and TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf), also is available. Ask your Case Manager to assist you with these services.

Interpreters

Language is no barrier. If you do not speak English fluently, do not worry. The quality of your treatment will not be affected in any way. We can make arrangements for an interpreter to communicate with our non-English speaking patients and visitors.

If you need the help of an interpreter, tell your Case Manager or caregiver. If our in- house interpreters cannot speak your language, we will obtain the services you need to enable communication with you.

Visitor Information

Your family and friends are welcome to most areas of the hospital during open visiting hours. Supervised, well-behaved children may visit as well. Visitation by children age 6 and under should be discouraged except in extenuating circumstances. Visitors with infections should be restricted. Visitors to patients in isolation should use good hand washing technique and wear the proper attire supervised by the nursing staff. It is recommended that only 2 persons visit a patient at one time. The number of visitors may be restricted at any given time at the discretion of the charge nurse. Visitors must abide by caution signs. Some of our units have special visiting hours because of the critical nature of the care being given.

Visiting Hours

General Visiting Hours		Hours are unrestricted, except for medical necessity.
ICU/MOU		We recommend immediate family only If you require extended family visitation, please limit the number in the room.

We provide waiting areas for family and friends.

Parking

Visitor parking at our hospital is free of charge. We have designated some locations for specific personnel. Our security or other personnel are available to escort you and your visitors to your vehicle. Just dial the operator and ask for an escort.

Restrooms

Public restrooms are located throughout the hospital. Because patient doors do not lock, visitors should use only public restrooms to ensure privacy.

Overnight Stays

One family member may stay overnight if the patient has a private room. Overnight visitors should talk to the nurse. Limited sleep chairs/cots are available. Visitors may not stay overnight in semi-private rooms only if space permits.

Food and Nutrition Services

Patient Meals

Good nutrition plays an important role in your health and recovery process. The Food Services Department wants to ensure you receive a balanced meal of your choice. Your menu is diet specific and prepared by our culinary staff and registered dietitians. Please inform your caregiver of food related allergies or other specific dietary preferences. If you have any questions about our menu, please let your caregiver know.

Guest Trays

Where available, guest trays can be requested with two hours advance. There may be a nominal charge a guest tray and a limit of one per patient meal. Please ask your nurse if available and to request.

Vending Machines

Vending machines are accessible 24 hours a day in our hospital or host facility.

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

This information will be provided to you in a separate handout.

Medicare Notification

This information will be provided to you in a separate handout.

Conditions of Admission

This document will be provided for your signature acknowledging the consent for treatment and other information included.

Patient Safety

Your Safety is Important to Us!

At Triumph Hospital, we believe patient identification is essential in providing a safe healthcare environment. For this reason, our staff will be asking for your name, and checking your armband. Additional measures may include a photograph taken of the patient and placed in their room as well as asking patient’s to confirm their date of birth.

Often your medical condition or the medications that you are receiving may leave you unstable on your feet. To insure your safety we ask that you:

Call for assistance to obtain items beyond your reach.
Observe the wet floor signs and walk around any areas that housekeeping as wet mopped.
Report spilled water or objects lying on the floor.
Be safety conscious.

Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don’t understand, ask again. It’s your body and you have the right to know. Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you’re getting the right treatment and medications by the right healthcare professionals. Don’t assume anything. Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing, and your treatment plan. Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate. Know what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common healthcare mistakes. Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the healthcare team.

HIPAA Notification

This information will be provided to you in a separate handout.

Release of Patient Information

Information about your healthcare is confidential. Triumph Hospital recognizes the importance of protecting your privacy and has developed numerous mechanisms to maintain confidentiality. Except as specifically authorized by state law, you have the right to determine the information the hospital may release.

Confused Patients

It is not unusual for a patient to become confused while hospitalized. If necessary for patient safety, the Case Manager can assist you with arranging for a sitter.

Be an informed consumer!

Being knowledgeable about medications, dosages, indications, side effects and any special considerations is an important aspect of your healthcare. This will help your doctors, nurses and pharmacists help you with your healthcare needs.