Your Hospital Stay

Checking In To The Hospital Patient Services Caregivers During Your Stay A Culture Of Safety For Our Patients Smoking Policy Organizational Ethics Your Medical Records Patient Responsibilities When You Leave

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Checking into the Hospital:

What to bring:

Important papers you MUST bring:

• Medical insurance cards
• Identification
• Name, address, and telephone number of closest family member
• List of all medications you are currently taking
• Advance Directive (Living Will) and Durable Power of Attorney

When you are preparing for admittance to Barton Memorial Hospital, please note the following checklist:

• Nightwear, robe, rubber-soled slippers (hospital gowns are available)
• Personal toiletries (makeup, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, dentures, etc.)
• Reading materials and your address book

If you are packing for your child, you may wish to include:

• Comfortable nightclothes (child-size hospital gowns are available)
• A special toy or two, clearly labeled with your child’s name
• Coloring books, crayons, books, etc.

What NOT to Bring:

Please leave the following items at home:

• Large amounts of money
• Jewelry and other valuables
• Electrical appliance

Admissions:

You will be admitted through the Admitting Office or the Emergency Department. Please have your insurance information ready. It is important that you arrive on time, because your physician may have scheduled special tests for you, (i.e., blood work, X-rays, etc.).

Pre-scheduled surgery arrangements should be made through your physician’s office and the hospital's preoperative patient coordinator. Pre-admission is recommended for anyone aware of upcoming births, surgeries, or hospital procedures.

Your Hospital Room:

Your hospital room charge includes meals, use of a telephone for local calls, and a TV. Your room may be private or semi-private. We make a concerted effort to honor your preference, but there are times when your treatment or a high occupancy rate, may make your choice unavailable.

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Patient Services:

Patient Meal Times:

Breakfast: 8:00 a.m.
Lunch: 12:00 p.m.
Dinner: 6:00 p.m.

Nurse Call Light:

A nurse "call light" is located at the bedside. A nurse will respond to your room or answer by intercom. If call is answered by intercom, please answer back in a clear voice.

Visiting Hours:

Regular visiting hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., though patients may receive visitors outside regular visitation hours. Visitors arriving between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. should check in with the front desk to receive a visitor badge; any visitors arriving after 6:00 p.m. or on Sunday, must check in with Barton Security at the Emergency Department entrance to receive a visitor badge.

Visitors who show or disclose symptoms of a cold, flu, COVID-19, or other transmissible illness will not be permitted to visit (exceptions may be allowed as determined by a patient's care team and the supervisor on shift).

Cafeteria Hours:

Breakfast: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Dinner: 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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Caregivers During your Stay:

With a patient-family approach to care, we value the role that you and your family play in determining your plan of care. When your doctor, nurse and other care team members see you, we encourage you to ask questions and make your wishes known.

Hospitalists:

Physicians who specialize in all aspects of your care from admission to discharge. They manage and coordinate all of your inpatient care, working closely with your primary care physician and other hospital staff to make the most effective treatment decisions.

Physicians:

Your doctor is in charge of your care plan during your hospitalization. He or she orders your examinations, medications, treatments, tests and diet. Your doctor (or doctor’s partner) will see you in the hospital every day. You may encounter several different titles that are used for physicians.

Nurses:

Nursing care is provided by licensed professional Registered Nursing staff and Nursing Assistants who ensure that your plan of care is implemented in a safe, appropriate and timely manner. The Registered Nurse coordinates your care to make sure that all care team members focus on your needs and provide you with a positive patient experience.

Laboratory/EKG:

Certified Phlebotomists will draw blood for tests ordered by your doctor. Most blood draws are done very early in the morning so that the results are ready when the doctors make rounds.

Respiratory Therapy:

If ordered by your physician, a Respiratory Therapist may come into your room to administer treatments or therapy.

Medical Imaging:

If X-rays, ultrasounds or other scans are ordered, you will be cared for by the Medical Imaging team.

Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy:

Therapy sessions may be ordered by your doctor as part of your rehabilitation.
Case Management/Social Services.

Case Management/Social Services:

During your inpatient stay, a Case Manager or Social Worker may visit you to assist with plans for discharge, equipment or services needed after discharge, use of healthcare services and needed resources while you are a patient. If you are suffering from a chronic disease such as Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or Pneumonia, we offer support services from an R.N. Transitions Coach to assist you with navigating your own care for 30 days following discharge. This service is available to you free of charge and can be accessed through Case Management Services.

Pharmacy:

Barton’s Pharmacy serves patients through convenient and competent service for medications. A pharmacy staff person makes daily patient rounds to answer any medication questions you many have. We are not currently licensed to fill outpatient prescriptions.

Nutritional Services:

Patients’ meals are planned specifically for their nutritional needs. If you have food restrictions due to allergies or religious/cultural customs, please inform your doctor or nurse as soon as possible. Our diet aides will help you with your menu choices. You may ask for a dietitian to visit if you have additional questions.

Ancillary Staff:

Ancillary Staff are stationed on each floor and perform a variety of tasks, including housekeeping, transportation and dietary services. You can identify these employees by their name badges.

Engineering Services:

If you find that there is a problem with hospital room equipment, plumbing or room temperature, please notify your nurse so that engineering services can be contacted.

Staff Language Interpreters and Interpreter Phones:

The purpose of Language Access Services is to ensure that all Limited English Proficient (LEP), speech disabled, deaf and hard of hearing patients and surrogate decision-makers are able to understand their medical conditions, treatment options and receive quality patient care.

When care providers do not have access to an in-person interpreter, Barton Health goes to My Accessible Real-Time Trusted Interpreter (MARTTI) which allows patients to securely access an American Sign Language Interpreter or Spoken Language Interpreter at the push of a button.

Please request these services from any staff member.

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A Culture of Safety for our Patients:

Our first priority is safety and prevention of injury. Despite constant and committed efforts, from time to time, patients may be harmed rather than helped by healthcare. While these outcomes are at times unavoidable, at other times, they result from preventable mistakes or errors in the provision of care.

To assist you in managing your care, the following is information regarding Condition (H)elp, adverse events, reporting safety issues, and falls.

Condition H(elp)

Barton Memorial Hospital is committed to providing the highest level of safe, quality care. Our Condition H program provides a hotline for patients and their visitors to call if they become concerned with a patient’s care and there is one of the following: deterioration in a patient’s condition that is concerning and not being addressed; an urgent (non-emergency) need to get the attention of the hospital staff; a communications breakdown of how care is being provided; uncertainty about what needs to be done next in a patient’s care plan.

To make a Condition H call, dial the extension 5860 from any hospital phone. Provide your name, the patient’s room number, the patient’s name and the patient’s concern. Within 10 minutes of calling, a team of critical care clinicians will arrive at the patient’s bedside to reassess the patient’s condition. Our goal is to address the immediate needs of the patient.

Adverse Events:

Adverse events happen when something that was planned as a part of a patient’s medical care doesn't go as planned, or may even happen when everything does go as planned. Adverse events can occur anywhere in the healthcare system: hospital, clinics, outpatient surgery centers, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, pharmacies, or patients’ homes. Adverse events can involve many things including: medicines, surgery, diagnosis, equipment, or lab reports. They can happen during even the most routine tasks, such as when a hospital patient is on a salt-free diet and is given a high-salt meal.

What Can You Do? Speak Up!

1. The single most important way you can help to prevent errors is to be an active member of your healthcare team.
2. Make sure all of your doctors know about the prescription and over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements, including vitamins and herbs, that you are taking.
3. Make sure your doctor knows about any allergies and adverse reactions you have had to medicines.
4. When your doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can understand it.
5. Don’t be afraid to tell the nurse or the doctor if you think you are about to receive the wrong medication.
6. Ask for information about your medicines in terms you can understand both when your medicines are prescribed and when you receive them.
7. When you pick up your medicine from the pharmacy, ask: Is this the medicine that my doctor prescribed?
8. If you have any questions about the directions on your medicine labels...ask for clarification.
9. Ask your pharmacist for the best device to measure your liquid medicine. Also, ask questions if you’re not sure how to use the device.
10. Ask for written information about the side effects your medicine could cause.
11. If you are in the hospital, consider asking all health care workers who have direct contact with you whether they have washed their hands.
12. When you are being discharged from the hospital, ask your doctor or nurse to explain the treatment plan you will use at home.
13. Ask a family member or friend to be there with you and to be your advocate (someone you can help get things done and speak up for you if you can’t).
14. Review consents for treatment with your advocate before you sign them and make sure you both understand what exactly you are agreeing to.
15. Make sure that all health professionals involved in your care have important health information about you, including your preferences for care and your wishes concerning resuscitation and life support.
16. Don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion. If you are unsure about the nature of your illness and what treatment is best, consult with one or two additional specialists. The more information you have about the options available to you, the more confident you will be in the decisions being made.
17. Learn about your condition and treatments by asking your doctor and nurse and by using other reliable sources.

Falls:

Certain conditions make us more prone to falls and other accidental injuries. Here are just a few:

• Multiple Medications
  The more medications you take, the more likely you are to experience dizziness or other risky side effects. Tell all of your health care providers about the drugs you are taking. Ask them about any side effects that might place you at risk for falls.
• Walking Difficulties
  Shuffling, weakness, stooped over posture, inability to walk a straight line, numbness or tingling of toes can make falls more likely. Ask your doctor about assistive devices such as a cane or walker and learn how to use them correctly.
• Chronic conditions that interfere with thinking, such as Alzheimer’s Disease.
• Impaired vision or hearing.
• Two or more falls in the past 6 months. If you are falling frequently, talk to your doctor. It’s important to find out why.
• Fear of falling:
  Do not cut back on your normal activities. Inactivity can actually lead to more falls because of lost muscle strength. Your doctor can also recommend an exercise program to increase muscle strength and coordination, which can help reduce the risk of falling. If you feel unsteady on your feet, talk to your doctor. You may benefit from a cane or walker.

Guidelines to Prevent Falls in the Hospital:

1. Always follow your physician’s orders and the nurses’ instructions regarding whether you must stay in bed or if you require assistance to go to the bathroom.
2. When you need assistance, use your call light or bell by your bed or in the bathroom and wait for the nurse/ assistant to arrive to help you.
3. Ask the nurse for help if you feel dizzy or weak getting out of bed. Remember you are more likely to faint or feel dizzy after sitting or lying for a long time. If you must get up without waiting for help, sit in bed awhile before standing. Then rise carefully and slowly begin to walk.
4. Wear non-skid slipper socks whenever you walk in the hospital. If you don’t have any, ask your nurse for some.
5. Remain in a fully reclined or seated position while waiting for assistance. Please be patient. Someone will answer your call as promptly as possible.
6. Do not tamper with side rails that may be in use. Side rails are reminders to stay in bed and are designed to ensure your safety.
7. Walk slowly and carefully when out of bed. Do not lean or support yourself on rolling objects such as IV poles or your bedside table.
8. Do not use furniture with wheels to assist you.

Reporting Safety Issues:

If you were injured, wish to report an adverse event, want to discuss concerns you have with the quality of care you received or an unanticipated outcome, or even wish to offer suggestions for patient safety, please contact: Dawn Evans, Director of Patient Safety and Clinical Education by calling 530.543.5555.

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Smoking Policy:

Barton Health is proud to be a smoke-free healthcare system. For your health, all patients, visitors, employees and physicians are prohibited from using tobacco products anywhere inside, outside or on the grounds of Barton Memorial Hospital and all Barton Health facilities. This includes the parking areas and the vehicles parked there. The smoke-free campus initiative covers all tobacco products including chewing tobacco, as well as marijuana and e-cigarettes.

Please notify your nurse or physician immediately if you use tobacco so they can help you if you are in need of nicotine replacement options, such as gum, patches or medication. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak with your care team as soon as possible, so they can ensure you are comfortable during your stay.

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Organizational Ethics:

Patient Self Determination Act:

By law, all patients admitted to the hospital must be asked about the presence of an Advance Directive (Living Will; Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions).

If you do not have an Advance Directive, information will be provided to you. Hospital staff and practitioners will comply with the directive which will be placed on your medical record.

Separate downloadable Advance Directive forms are available to download and print:

• California Advance Directive Forms
  • English
  • Spanish
• Nevada Advance Directive Form
  • English
  • Spanish

Advance Directive documents can be uploaded into your MyChart Account and shared with your care team.

Organ Donations:

Barton Health works in close conjunction, as prescribed by law, with Sierra Donor Services. If you have any questions regarding this service, please contact your doctor, the nursing staff or Sierra Donor Services 916.567.1600.

Tipping and Gifts:

Employees are prohibited from accepting tips and gifts of significant value. We ask instead, that your gratitude is expressed in a letter to the staff, recommending our services to your friends, or making a donation to the Barton Foundation.

Ethics-based Approach to Patient Care:

Consistent with our Mission, Vision and Values, we believe and actively encourage patients and their families/ caregivers to participate in patient care and decision making. We recognize that dealing with serious and vitally important health care decisions can be both stressful and difficult for patients and families. This may sometimes cause conflict between family members or between family and members of the health care team. Barton’s Ethics Committee is structured to handle any ethics issue that may arise during your hospital stay. This Ethics Committee is comprised of the hospital’s medical staff (including your physician), nursing, social service, and clergy and can be convened at your request to address your issue with the utmost professionalism, dignity, compassion and confidence. Should you have a need for this service or to obtain further information related to the hospital’s ethics and patient rights program, please contact your physician, nurse or other hospital employee who will make the appropriate referral to an individual who will contact you or your family.

What is HIPAA?

HIPAA is designed to regulate the sharing of electronic patient information. A huge portion of healthcare dollars are currently spent on the process of determining eligibility and processing claims for payment, and one of HIPAA’s goals is to create national standards that can be used to expedite these processes and thus save money. Along with these goals, there is a realization that widespread dissemination of patient information in electronic format could create opportunities for inappropriate use of this information. Thus, HIPAA also includes strict provisions designed to protect confidential patient information in all its formats (electronic, paper and verbal).

As required under HIPAA's Privacy Standards, we provide each patient a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices, which outlines patients' rights regarding their health information and our commitment to protecting and ensuring its confidentiality. This Notice is provided to each patient upon the first date of service at Barton Health. You may obtain a copy of Barton Health's by Notice of Privacy Practices, or from our Admitting or H.I.M. departments at Barton Health.

HIPAA Officers:

• HIPAA Privacy Officer – Barton Health, P.O. Box 9578, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158, 530.543.5975
• HIPAA Security Officer – Barton Health, P.O. Box 9578, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158, infosec@bartonhealth.org
• To report a privacy violation or concern, please call the Privacy Hotline: 530.543.5975.

Spiritual Care:

Spiritual support is part of your medical care. Knowing your religious preference information helps us meet your care needs. Pastoral visits are available.

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Your Medical Records

Accessing Your Electronic Health Record: Barton Health’s MyChart^® is a free, easy and secure online tool that connects you to your health information from the privacy of your home -- day or night – making it very easy for you to manage your healthcare.

Medical Record Information: Patients' medical records are the property of the hospital. Under Federal and California State Law patients are entitled to information contained in their records subject to applicable legal statues and hospital policy. All information is confidential and release is closely controlled to protect our patients' right to privacy.

All requests for medical records information, including information on patients currently under treatment, must be directed to: Correspondence Unit - Health Information Services, Barton Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 9578, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158 or by calling 530.543.5900.

Copying of medical records can be done for a nominal fee.

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Patient Responsibilities:

Provision of Information: A patient has the responsibility to provide, to the best of his/her knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his/her health. A patient has the responsibility to report unexpected changes in condition to the responsible practitioner. A patient is responsible for reporting whether he/she clearly comprehends a contemplated course of action and what is expected of him/her. A patient is responsible for asking questions and be responsible for acknowledging when he/she doesn't understand the treatment course or care decision.

Compliance with Instruction: A patient is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for his/her care. This may include following the instructions of nurses and allied health personnel as they carry out the coordinated plan of care, implementing the responsible practitioner’s orders, and enforcing the applicable hospital rules and regulations. The patient is responsible for consequences that arise from not following instructions. The patient is responsible for keeping appointments and, when unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the responsible practitioner or the hospital.

Refusal of Treatment: The patient is responsible for his/her actions if he/she refuses treatment or does not follow the practitioner’s instructions.

Hospital Charges: The patient is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his/her health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.

Hospital Rules and Regulations: The patient is responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

Respect and Consideration: The patient is responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel and for assisting in the control of noise and the number of visitors. The patient is responsible for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital.

The patient is responsible for supporting mutual consideration and respect by maintaining civil language and conduct in interactions with the staff and licensed independent practitioners.

The patient is responsible for following policies, rules and regulations that are in place to support quality care for patients and a safe environment for all individuals in the hospital

Family, Significant Other, Guest Responsibility: The family/significant other or guest are responsible for being considerate of the rights of the patient; as well as other patients and hospital personnel and for assisting in the control of noise.

The family/significant other or guest are responsible for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital.

The family/significant other or guest are responsible for respecting the patient’s privacy when treatments are being given, as well as at the request of the patient and/or health care member.

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When You Leave:

Discharge:

We hope that you’ve had a comfortable stay at Barton Memorial Hospital. Now that you are ready to leave the hospital here are a few things you need to know:

• Your physician will decide when you will be discharged, and your nursing staff will discuss your discharge instructions with you prior to your departure.
• Please arrange for someone to take extra items, such as gifts and flowers, to your home prior to your leaving. This will help make your discharge more efficient.
• Make sure you have all personal belongings and your discharge prescriptions.
• A hospital staff member will take you to your vehicle in a wheelchair. Please arrange for someone to drive you home. The car may be parked outside the main lobby doors for loading.
• You will be contacted by the business office if insurance or billing information are needed.

Hospital Charges and Other Fees:

Barton Health will bill your insurance company(s) for you. Private payment schedules may also be arranged. Physicians and services such as anesthesiology, surgery, radiology, and pathology are billed independently. Hospital charges are itemized on the hospital statement and a Business Office representative can assist you with the interpretation if needed 530.543.5930. For your convenience, you can pay your bills online.

Thank You for choosing Barton Health.

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