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Guidebook for New Hospital Patients
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Preparing for Your Stay
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Daily Bread
Entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels.
Hebrews 13:2 |
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At Baptist Memorial hospitals, your health, safety and well-being are our top priority. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and hope your visit is as pleasant as possible. While you are at Baptist, our goal is to exceed your expectations with friendly and responsive service. Our holistic approach to your care includes services for healing the body, mind and spirit.
As a patient at Baptist, you are an integral part of your own health care team. Your participation in your care and your diligence in following your own specific health care program as prescribed by your health care providers play a big part in your health outcomes. We encourage you to partner with us for the best results for you. Below is information you'll find helpful while preparing for a stay in one of our hospitals.  Admissions Patients admitted overnight will receive an admissions packet containing registration documents, as well as other helpful information. Please keep this booklet readily available during your hospital stay to assist our staff in keeping you and your family aware of information given to you during your hospitalization. You are being admitted to the hospital because your physician, who is a member of the medical staff, has requested it. Therefore, we will need to get some personal information from you, including financial and medical records required by law. These records are confidential and will not be released to anyone without your written consent. Preadmission To help reduce the time spent in the admissions office at the time of your hospitalization, you can let us know ahead of time that you are coming. For Baptist Collierville, Baptist DeSoto, Baptist Rehabilitation-Germantown, Baptist Memphis or Baptist Women's Hospital, you can pre-register online. Most insurance companies require prior approval or certification. Please notify your insurance company as soon as you think you will have to go to the hospital. Whether or not the insurance company is responsible for paying for your services depends on your policy with your insurance company. You and your physician are responsible for making sure you have met all the conditions of your policy. Many insurance companies require you to notify them no later than 48 hours after an emergency admission to the hospital. Patient Bill of Rights Patients treated in the hospital receive their Patient's Bill of Rights upon admission. Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney Upon admission, patients will be asked if they have a Living Will and/or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. These documents are important so hospital staff may follow your wishes should you become incapable of making decisions pertinent to your care. If you have a living Will and/or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care with you, a registration representative will gladly make a copy for you. If you have forgotten to bring your copy, please express your wishes to your nurses upon admission so they may document the information and notify your physician. However, it is most important that you make arrangements as soon as possible to have your Living Will and/or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care brought to the hospital to be placed in your medical chart. Making Your Wishes Known Should you decide you would like to establish a Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care while you are a patient, please contact Patient Registration. The document does require witnesses and notarized signatures. Neither hospital employees nor volunteers may witness or notarize this document. Please refer to the local phone book for notaries public. Medications Please notify your health care provider about any medications you are currently taking. This includes over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and supplements, as well as prescription medicines. Your health care providers also need to know if you have any allergies to medications, foods, etc. If you bring personal medications with you to the hospital, you should have your doctor's approval before taking them. Talk with your health care provider before taking anything you brought from home. You should give any medications that you brought into the hospital but don't need to a family member for safekeeping. For more information on this topic, please see our page of tips on hospital medications. Wristbands After being admitted to the hospital, you will receive an identification wristband. Please wear it on your wrist until you are discharged from the hospital. The band provides positive identification and is for your protection. Valuables Please do not keep valuables or money with you because the hospital cannot be responsible for them. Security personnel can make arrangements to have your valuables locked up and will give you a receipt that must be turned in before you can get them back. Electronic Appliances and Personal Items from Home Electronic appliances, such as hair dryers, clocks, electric razors and curling irons, must be checked and approved by someone from nursing services before being used in your room. Televisions other than the one in your room are not allowed. Please do not bring pillows or blankets from home. If you need extra linens, please contact someone at the nurses' station. Also, any medications you bring into the hospital must be left with the nurse.  Top of Page |
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In keeping with the three-fold ministry of Christ - preaching, teaching and healing - Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation will be the leader in providing quality health care. |