Home   /   Patients   /   Patient Guide
Patients

Patient Guide

Before You Arrive...

Remember to Bring

Sidney Health Center will need any insurance card(s), Medicare card or Medicaid card, a list of current medications that you are taking and your driver’s license or verification of address. Other items you may wish to bring for your hospital stay are eyeglasses, hearing aids, pajamas, robe and slippers, toothbrush and toothpaste, comb, brush, and other personal hygiene items. Click to view preadmissions checklist.

Medications

When you know that you will be admitted to the hospital for care, you should always bring with you all of the medications (prescription, herbal, and over-the-counter) that you are currently taking at home. It is essential that your doctors, pharmacists and nurses know what medications you take, to give you the best care possible. If you cannot bring your medications in yourself, please arrange for a family member or friend to bring them in for you. We will identify and review all of your medications and keep them in a safe place until you or a caretaker can take them home. While you are a patient under our care, you should only take medications prescribed by your doctor during your hospital stay and only if they are given to you by one of the nurses or therapist. You should not take any other medications even if you normally take them at home. A pharmacist is available to help you with questions about your medications. The hospital does not provide medications for you to take home unless it is an emergency, the area pharmacies are closed or the medication is not available anywhere else. You are encouraged to have your prescriptions filled at the pharmacy of your choice. The nurses and hospital pharmacists can help you with emergency situations and can help you find a pharmacy.

During Your Stay - Room Amenities...

Telephones

Telephones are located at each bedside, except in critical care. Patients may receive calls in their room; the number to the patient room will be on the phone 488- (4 digit extension number)

  • Local calls can be made by pressing “9” and dialing the local number.
  • Long distance and toll calls can be made at any time by dialing 9-0 and the number by using a calling card. You may make collect calls by calling a Sprint Operator, dial 9-1-800-877-8700.
  • You may call the hospital operator by dialing 0 at any time for assistance.

Mail

Letters and packages for patients are delivered daily. Sidney Health Center’s address is 216 14th Avenue Southwest, Sidney, Montana 59270. Letters and parcels arriving after you have been discharged will be forwarded to your home.

Food and Nutrition

Sidney Health Center makes every effort to provide nutritious meals that are prepared according to your doctor’s orders. Patient meals are served starting at the following times:

  • Breakfast 8:00 a.m.
  • Lunch Noon 12:00 p.m.
  • Dinner 5:00 p.m.

Family members and friends are welcome to eat in your room with you. Visitors may go to the cafeteria, buy a meal and bring it back to the patient room. Family members and guardians, who are staying with a child or a critically ill patient, may request a guest tray from the nurse.

Cafeteria Hours

Room Service Dining is offered to hospital patients between 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM daily.

The cafeteria is open from:

  • Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Saturday - Sunday & Holidays 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are available on all nursing units, but getting in and out of them without assistance may be hazardous. Please ask for help from a member of the hospital staff.

Facility Policies...

Cellular Phones

We would like the use of cellular phones to be reserved for use out of direct patient care areas. Cellular phones may be used in hallways, waiting rooms and lobby. NO CELLULAR PHONE use in high-risk areas…laboratory, critical care, emergency or surgery.

Smoking

Sidney Health Center recently adopted a tobacco-free campus policy. As a result, tobacco use of any kind is not permitted in and around the facilities owned by Sidney Health Center. Free tobacco cessation materials and nicotine replacement therapy products are offered to inpatients during their stay upon consultation with their physician.

Valuables or Lost Items

Patients are asked not to bring items of value to the hospital. If you have a valuable item, it should be deposited in a locked safe or box in the nurses’ station. You will be given a written receipt for all items, which must be presented when you withdraw them. Sidney Health Center does not accept responsibility for lost valuables.If you have lost something, please notify your nurse immediately and we will make every effort to help you find it. To inquire about lost articles, call the main hospital number…488-2100 and ask for Housekeeping. Unclaimed articles are turned into this department.

Getting the Most Out of Your Stay - Special Needs or Requests...

One main goal at Sidney Health Center is to meet the physical and emotional needs of our patients and guests. If you have special needs, please contact the nurse. There are a few special services we provide that you should be aware of:

  • Patients with Disabilities: Sidney Health Center complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A variety of services and devices are available to those in need. Contact the Social Worker or ask the nurse for assistance.
  • Interpreters: Sidney Health Center can arrange access to interpreters for a number of foreign languages should a patient require it.
  • For the Hearing Impaired: A telecommunications device is available to help hearing-impaired patients or patients who want to communicate with a hearing-impaired relative or friend. Phone amplifiers are available by request from your nurse. Arrangements can also be made to have a person who uses sign language help a hearing-impaired or deaf patient.
  • Parents of Pediatric Patients: Sidney Health Center advises parents to be closely involved with their hospitalized child for comfort and support. Live-in arrangements are encouraged so the parent can assist and help with follow-up care. A parent or guardian (or an adult 18 years or older) is required to stay with the child 24 hours a day. This is essential for the child’s well-being and can help alleviate fear. Meal trays will be provided for one adult staying with a patient 12 years and younger. It is important that you explain to the young patient exactly what is happening to them. Your child trusts you, so be honest and explain to them when it is going to hurt. Let the youngster know the benefits of each medical treatment (this shot will help you feel better).
  • Chaplain Services: We believe that total patient care includes attention to the spiritual, as well as the physical and emotional needs of each patient. Members of our community clergy are available to assist you, whatever your religious tradition. Your clergy person is always welcome to visit you while you are here. The chapel is open 24 hours a day for your needs.

Keeping Your Safety in Mind...

Many hospitals across the country are working to make healthcare safety a priority. At Sidney Health Center we encourage our patients to be active participants in their care through the use of the “Speak-Up” Program:



Patient safety is important to us. Please observe the following guidelines during your stay:

  • Use your call button to request assistance rather than attempting an action or movement that will result in a fall or injury.
  • In case of fire, follow the hospital staff’s instructions and /or exit at the nearest overhead, lighted exit sign. If you discover a fire, activate the nearest fire alarm and/or notify any hospital staff.
  • If there is a tornado warning, follow the hospital staff’s instruction. Seek shelter in an inside corridor, room or stairwell away from all outside windows.
  • For any other emergency, please follow the direction of your nurse or other staff.
  • For your protection and for the protection of our patients and staff, visitors to our hospital are prohibited from bringing or carrying guns, knives or other concealed weapons on hospital property.

Going Home...

When your doctor determines you are ready to leave the hospital, a discharge order will be written. You may want to make arrangements with a family member or friend to help you when it is time to go home. When you are ready to leave, a member of the hospital staff will escort you to an entrance and help you in the vehicle.

Some important things to remember are:

  • Personal Belongings: Collect all of your belongings and double-check closets and drawers.
  • Discharge instructions: Your doctor and your nurse will give you instructions about post hospital care. You may have a consultation with a pharmacist about your prescriptions for medicine. You will receive written instruction about your diet, activity and follow-up care.
  • Discharge Planning: Continuity of care requires thoughtful preparation by the entire health care team. Each patient’s needs for continuing care are assessed on an ongoing basis by our staff. The purpose of discharge planning is to identify a patient’s individual needs and to ensure coordination of services takes place before you leave Sidney Health Center. A Social Worker will assist you in coordinating your services for discharge.