YOUR STAY AT ALBEMARLE HOSPITAL

Mail and Flowers
Mail and flowers are delivered to your room daily. When you are discharged, they will be forwarded to your home.

Gift Shop
You will find it located on the first floor. There are a variety of gift items to purchase, including greeting cards, candy, magazines and newspapers. Special items are available to celebrate newborns. Sandwiches, snacks, and beverages are also available.

Television/Music
All hospital television service is free of charge. The channel selector and volume controls are conveniently located on your pillow speaker.

Be sure to tune in to Albemarle Hospital Channel 18, and see the latest in a variety of health programs.

Telephones
Each patient room is equipped with a telephone that can be reached through the main switchboard, at 335-0531.

Cellular Phones
Please do not bring cellular phones into the hospital. Making calls sends signals that interfere with our patient monitoring equipment.

Smoking
A "No Smoking" policy is in effect throughout the hospital. We expect your full cooperation. Visitors are asked to use designated areas outside the hospital when smoking. Please ask our staff for their locations.

Personal Safety
Be careful when getting up from bed, or from a chair. You may be too weak to try standing or walking without assistance.

• Use your call bell, or ask for help, unless your physician says you are capable of moving about without assistance.
  
• Do not remove your identification bracelet - it assures you will receive the treatment, medication, meals, and other services that have been prescribed for you.
  
• Wear slippers or shoes with non-skid soles. "Socks Only" may cause you to slip and fall.
  
• Use extra care in the bathroom; move slowly, use the grab bar for support, and use the nurse call system if you need help.
  
• Never take medications that you brought from home, and never take medications prescribed for someone else.
  
• Please never be embarrassed to ask for help ... that's why we're here.

Personal Electric Appliances
Please do not bring personal radios, TVs, shavers, hair dryers, or other electric items into the hospital, and tell your nurse if you have these items in your room. For your safety, and the safety of others, these items must be inspected by our Clinical Engineering Department before you use them.

Fire Drills
All employees are trained in fire prevention, control, and fire evacuation procedures. An important part of their preparedness is fire drills. These may be conducted at any time, in any part of the hospital. So, should you hear the alarms, do not be frightened. Remember, fire control equipment is available, and designed to meet the requirements of Fire Safety Engineers, and State and Municipal Codes.

Meals
Your diet has been carefully selected by your physician, and meal trays are carefully checked by our Nutritional Services Supervisors to assure diet and menu accuracy. Visitors are discouraged from bringing food to patients.

Meal trays are delivered to your room beginning at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast, 12:00 p.m. for lunch, and 5:00 p.m. for dinner.

Your menu for the following day will be sent on your breakfast tray. After you review it, and list your preferences, please give it to your nurse. Our Menu Hostess collects them after morning meal rounds. Please let her know if you have a concern with your diet. She may be reached between 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. by pager 334-8936, or, you may call Nutritional Services, at extension 5102.

Due to potential dietary restrictions, inpatients are not permitted to eat in the cafeteria. If you have a special meal request, please ask your nurse for assistance. We will be happy to accommodate you when possible.

Cafeteria/Vending Machine Hours
Visitors are welcome in our Cafeteria, located in the north side of the hospital, in the first floor hallway next to the Education Center.

Meals are served during the following hours:
Early Breakfast: 1:30 - 3:00 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Breakfast: 6:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Dinner: 5:15 - 6:40 p.m.

Vending machines can be found on the first floor, in the E-Cafe near the Dining Room and also near the Emergency Department.

E-Cafe
Located next to the cafeteria, on the first floor of the hospital, this 24-hour cafe offers three computers with Internet access, if you would like to check your e-mail, or just surf the Web. Vending machines are also located here - the E-Cafe is a quiet place to eat a snack.

Cream & Sugar Station
The Cream & Sugar Station coffee stand located in the main lobby is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Valuables and Personal Items
Although care will be taken to protect your personal belongings, the hospital cannot be responsible for the loss of valuables (money, jewelry, credit cards, etc.), or personal items (eye glasses, contact lenses, dentures, etc.). Please report your valuables and personal items to your nurse. Should you wish, the nurse will follow hospital procedure when storing them.

Remember, the hospital cannot be responsible for the loss or misplacement of such items if they have not been reported first to your nurse.

For Your Visitors
We understand visitors are important to your recovery, and we encourage your family and friends to visit during regular visiting hours.

• If you are a patient, you may receive up to two visitors at a time. Visits should be kept reasonably short.
  
• Children, if accompanied by an adult, are allowed to visit members of their family.
  
• For security reasons, late night and overnight visitation is limited, and requires approval. Please ask your nurse for more information.
  
• Remember, all patients need rest. Your attention to preserving quiet on hospital floors and in rooms is appreciated. Please help us keep noise levels low.

General Visiting Hours
General visiting hours are from 1:00 - 8:30 p.m., except in specialty units noted below.

Maternity Services
General visitation is permitted from 1:00 - 8:30 p.m. Two adult supportive people may remain with the mother during labor; all other visitors are requested to remain in the waiting room. No children under 18 years of age are permitted in labor and delivery. No children under 6 years of age (unless a sibling) are permitted in maternity areas.

SICU and MICU
SICU means "Surgical Intensive Care Unit," and MICU means "Medical Intensive Care Unit."

• Only immediate family members are permitted to visit a patient on these units, and only 2 persons may visit at a time.
  
• Visiting is limited to 15-minute intervals, beginning at the following hours: 9 a.m.; 11 a.m.; 1 p.m.; 3 p.m.; 5 p.m.; and 8 p.m.
  
• Children under 14 years of age are not permitted to visit. In special circumstances, some flexibility in the ICUs visiting times may be allowed - at the discretion of the supervising nurse.

Chaplain Services
Should you like to see your pastor, or one of the many ministers who serve patients at Albemarle Hospital, please contact your nurse or Patient Representative. A chaplain is on call at all times. Our chapel is located on the first floor, should you or your visitors desire time for meditation, or prayer.