About Your Hospital Stay

Your Care Is Our First Concern

Everyone at Good Samaritan Hospital (GSH) is committed to providing high-quality care, respect, and consideration for all our patients. We understand that your hospital stay may be a time of stress and uncertainty for you and your family and that you may have questions and concerns.

We Welcome Your Question and Comments

If, at any time during your stay, you have a question, comment, or concern about the services you have received, we encourage you to speak with the Team Leader or Nurse Manager on your unit. You can also contact Customer Service weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at (937) 734-1000. If you have any dissatisfaction, our Patient Representatives will help you in addressing your concern(s).

Care Management

The Department of Integrated Care Management (ICM) provides coordination of patient care in the hospital and outpatient setting. The care team members include physicians, registered nurses, social workers, and financial assistance counselors. These individuals offer assistance and information to patients/family members regarding personal or family crises, adjustment to illness, discharge planning, home health care, extended care facility placement, and community resources that may be available after discharge from the hospital.

Patient Safety Is Our Top Priority

This is a guide for you and your family to help us ensure your health and safety while in the hospital. At GSH, we’re committed to safe, quality care.

Be Involved in Your Health Care

The single most important way you can help to prevent errors is to be an active member of your health care team.

Taking an active role in your health care is a four-step process:

• Take part in decisions about your treatment
• Follow your plan of care
• Watch for unexpected issues and be involved in solving them right away
• Communicate any concerns related to your care, treatments, services, or safety

Speak Up If You Have Any Questions or Concerns

• You have a right to question anyone who is involved with your care
• If you have any concerns which you feel are not being addressed, please ask to speak to a manager, or call the Customer Service Department at extension 1000
• You may want to write down questions to ask for the next time the doctor visits

Ask Which Doctor Is in Charge of Your Care While You Are in the Hospital

You may have several doctors handling different aspects of your care, but one should be coordinating or in charge. Ask the doctor who admitted you to GSH, “Who is in charge of my care?”

Identify Yourself

• You will see many different people caring for you as a part of the health care team. You should identify yourself to them by name and birthdate. They should identify themselves to you by their name.
• Wear your patient identification (ID) band at all times. Our staff will identify themselves to you by wearing their picture ID card.
• Know what procedures you are to have, and make sure your health care workers tell you what they plan to do before beginning a procedure.
• Understand that, throughout your stay, staff will frequently identify you for your safety.

Emphasize Hand Washing

Ask our health care workers who have direct contact with you if they washed their hands before entering your room or performing any procedure.

• Hand washing is an important way to prevent the spread of infection in hospitals. Frequently, our health care professionals wash their hands before entering your room, but please ask and become our partner in safety.
• Ask your visitors to wash their hands when they enter your room.
• It is also important that you wash your hands frequently.

Describe Symptoms and/or Amount of Pain Clearly

Understand Your Medication

• Your medication may be different while you are in the hospital than what you take at home. You may also take medication at different times.
• Know what medications in the hospital you are taking, why you are taking them, what they look like, what time you take them, and potential side effects.
• If your medicine looks different, ask why.
  Make sure your patient ID is checked before any medication is given.

For more information, see Tips for Managing Your Medicine.

Help Prevent Falls

Call for help to get out of bed or a chair, especially if you feel dizzy or unsteady on your feet.
Wear non-skid slippers or slipper socks at all times when you are out of bed.