For Your Recovery and Well-Being
Your Health Care Team
Health care today is highly specialized. Your care is in the hands of not one, but many skilled professionals. Together they make up your health care team. You’ll meet many of these people during your hospital stay, while others work behind the scenes to help get you well. We hope you will feel free to address your questions and concerns to any member of SMCSR’s health care team.
SMCSR is the only hospital in Sonoma County with a Family Practice Residency Program. The resident physicians have all completed medical school and are here to gain valuable experience under the supervision of our specialized faculty. With your permission, these physicians may be involved in your care as appropriate to your condition.
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Meeting Your Needs
An important part of providing you with very good care and service is hourly rounding. You will be visited by one of your caregivers every hour and during this time we will be:
- Checking on you and your well-being
- Monitoring your comfort and pain
- Helping you move and change positions
- Assisting you with trips to the bathroom
- Answering questions about your plan of care
Your caregivers will also make sure that you have easy access to your bedside items. What does this mean to you, your family and visitors? It means we are anticipating your personal needs and monitoring your well-being on an active, hourly basis so that your family and visitors can focus on your recovery.
Here at SMCSR we also include patients in bedside report when nurses change shifts in order to ensure that information regarding your plan of care is well communicated and is accurate. In order to maintain your privacy, we will be asking you if you would prefer to include specific family members in this discussion. Please be assured that in the event you are sleeping during this time, staff will not awaken you.
You will receive a survey after you go home. We hope that you will take the time to give us your feedback. We use your feedback to recognize our staff and learn how to improve.
If at any time you feel that you are not receiving “very good” care or if you have any questions or concerns, please ask for the Charge Nurse immediately so we can address your concerns.
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Talking to Your Doctor
In order to make an accurate diagnosis and to provide appropriate treatment, your doctor relies on the information that only you can provide. You can be an effective partner with your physician by listening carefully, asking questions, describing your symptoms or health concerns and participating in decisions about your healthcare.
Explain your problems or concerns. Describe any symptoms you have, when they started, how often they occur and how long they last.
Speak honestly and openly with your physician.
Ask about treatment options. Ask about your treatment plan. Ask about possible side effects or treatments or medications. Ask about diet and exercise.
Listen carefully to your physician. Repeat back what you heard, so that both you and your physician will know that you understand. Use a note pad to take notes.
Always tell your physician about all self-treatments you are using. Report all vitamins, herbal medicines, unusual diets, medications and over the counter drugs that you are taking.
Talk to your physician about any past or current alternative therapies you have used. If you are seeing any alternative providers, they must communicate and work with your physician to assure you do not experience adverse interactions.
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Hints for Your Hospital Stay
- Move your ankles up and down and around in a circle frequently while lying in bed to promote good circulation.
- Breathe deeply several times and cough every few hours while awake to keep your lungs clear.
- Drink plenty of fluids (unless contradicted by your treatment plan).
- Participate as much as possible in your hygiene activities and be as active as your doctor/and condition allows. The more activity, moving and walking that you can do will help regain your strength.
- We encourage the participation of family and your loved ones to assist with personal hygiene.
- Learn as much as you can about your illness or procedure.
- Write down your questions if no one is readily available to answer them - so you don’t forget to ask them later.
- It is our goal that you will feel you are receiving very good care, however, if concerns about your hospitalization should arise, you or members of your family are encouraged to contact the Charge Nurse or Nurse Manager of the nursing department. She/he can help resolve issues and maintain the highest quality of service possible. Your nurse can help you contact the Nurse Manager for your area.
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Spiritual Services
SMCSR is non-denominational. People of all faiths are welcome, and we are committed to doing what we can to meet each individual’s spiritual needs. Our chaplaincy service accommodates all religious affiliations and is available to all patients and their families. The service can arrange a visit from clergy of your choice. Any member of the health care team may contact the chaplaincy services worker for you or you may call the operator for assistance.
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Special Places
We understand the stress that can accompany a hospital stay. We are pleased to offer several restful, attractive places for you to spend time during your visit, with your doctor’s permission. These include several lovely outdoor gardens and patios lined with blooming flowers and thriving trees. The gardens, including our large patio, fountain area, and Japanese meditation garden, are located on the east side of the hospital. Please ask our staff to assist you in locating these special places.
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Social Services
Social services are provided by a social worker specifically educated and trained to help patients and families cope with the impact of their illness and to achieve the maximum benefit from available health services. The social worker will assist patients and their families with social, emotional, and lifestyle changes by providing counseling and referrals to other community agencies which may assist with the patient’s recovery process. The social workers are available Monday through Friday during normal business hours and are on call on Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
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Discharge Planning
Discharge planning services are provided to patients with catastrophic illnesses and complex medical conditions. Discharge planners help patients and their families to: manage the transition from acute illness to recovery; facilitate planning for extended care; and assist the social worker to ensure that each patient’s optimal well-being is supported through a full range of health care resources. Discharge planning services are available Monday through Saturday during normal business hours with Sunday and holidays on call. Patients and families may ask their physician or nurse for a referral or they may call the social worker or case manager directly at 576-4309.
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Cough and Deep Breathing Instructions
Your doctor wants you to do coughing and deep breathing exercises as much as possible to prevent infection in your lungs as rapidly as possible.
- Make sure your bed is in an upright position or sit up in a straight chair so that your head and shoulders are supported by a firm surface.
- You can use pillows to help you position yourself and support your stomach.
- Inhale deeply and then cough, using your stomach and chest muscles.
- Breathe in slowly through your nose until you can see your chest and stomach muscles rise.
- Exhale.
Practice these exercises every hour doing at least five (5) deep breathes each time.
If you have been given an incentive spirometer, do the exercise at least every two (2) hours while awake, as instructed by your caregiver during hospitalization and at home.
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