Patient Information

Directions and Transportation to St. Mary’s Hospital
Admissions
Financial Forms
Consent Forms
Patient Satisfaction
What To Bring To The Hospital
What Not To Bring To The Hospital
Taking an Active Role in Your Own Care
Preventing the Spread of Infection
Room and Accommodation Information
Patient Responsibilities
Patient Safety/Security
Advance Directives
Ethics Committee
Discharge

Room and Accommodation Information

Once you are settled in your room, a member of the nursing staff will ask you questions about your current illness, your previous medical history, any special needs or physical limitations you may have and any medication you are currently taking, as well as potential care needs at home after you are discharged.  

We know you may have been asked these questions already by admitting but it is important that your nurse also ask these questions. The nurse will write down your answers, which will then go into your medical record. This information is designed to help all of the healthcare professionals who will be involved in your care provide the best, safest care.

Patient Rooms

Your room is assigned based upon your admitting diagnosis and bed availability on the day of your admission. Only when available and at the request of the patient, we may be able to accommodate a private patient room.

If you have any problems with your bed, TV, room temperature or other equipment in your room, please tell your nurse and he/she will contact the proper department or office to correct the situation.

Patients need to be aware that there are times when the hospital will need to move patients to a different room based on changing volume and varying patient needs. In the event that we need to relocate you, every effort will be made to ensure the transition is as easy as possible.

Calling Your Nurse

A button to call your nurse is located at your bedside. When the button is activated the nursing station is alerted that you need assistance. A staff member will respond to your signal as soon as possible. Also, each bathroom has an emergency nurse call button.

Bed and Bed Rails

For your convenience, beds can be adjusted electronically. Control panels are located at your bedside. Your nurse will explain how the controls work. For your protection and safety, there may be times when the side rails on your bed will be raised. If the rails are up on your bed, please press the nurse call button for help before trying to get out of the bed.

Pain Management

Pain is different for each person. It can affect how you feel physically, mentally and emotionally. Only you know when you have pain and what it feels like. The staff at St. Mary's Hospital is committed to pain prevention, pain management and pain education. Therefore, be sure to tell your doctor or nurse when you have pain. Your nurses and doctors will also ask you about your pain not only because they want you to be comfortable, but also because they want to know if something is wrong. Only by working together can we provide you with the best possible pain relief.

Pain that doesn't go away, even after you take pain medication may be an indication that there is a problem. You are the key to getting the best pain relief! Don't worry about being a bother; the doctors and nurses need to know about your pain. Ask for pain medications when pain first begins; do not wait until you cannot stand it anymore.

You may be asked to rate your pain on a scale of "0" to "10," "0" being No Pain, "5" Moderate Pain and "10" Worst Pain Imaginable. Reporting your pain helps the doctors and nurses know how well your treatment is working and whether or not changes need to be made.

Telephone

For your convenience a private telephone has been placed at your bedside.

  • To place a local call, dial "9" and the number you want to reach.
  • To place a call within the hospital, only dial the 4-digit extension.
  • All long distance calls must be billed to a credit card, calling card or your home telephone. For assistance, dial "0" for the Hospital operator.
  • The use of cell phones is prohibited in the hospital as they may interfere with medical equipment. We appreciate your cooperation.

Television

Color televisions are available for rent at a nominal fee of $6.00 a day. The fee is payable daily or in advance with television service being free the day of your discharge. The attendant, who will come to your room daily, will explain television service and its cost. Channel 6 on your television has a free closed - circuit broadcast of services conducted in the hospital's chapel. VCRs and/or DVD players are prohibited due to possible electrical hazards.

Patient Meal Service

Your diet is an important part of your recovery. Our goal in Nutrition Care is to provide you with an enjoyable dining experience while at the facility. Our menus offer wholesome, nourishing and well-balanced meals. If you are on a special diet prescribed by your physician, you will receive meals tailored to those specific needs. At St. Mary's, all food is prepared on site.

Kosher food is also available to patients upon request. These meals (prepackaged) are prepared under strict adherence to kosher dietary laws.

Your meal may be delayed if you are scheduled for a special test or treatment. Whenever possible, your meal will be served soon after your test or examination is complete. If not, please inform a member of your care team.

Approximate meal delivery times*

Breakfast 7:45 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Lunch 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Dinner 4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.

*Exact meal service varies based on location and patient census.

If you are to remain on a special diet after you leave the facility, a Registered Dietitian will assist you with details before your discharge. If at any time you have questions about nutritional needs or diet restrictions, call Ext. 2067 and someone will gladly address your concerns.

Mail

Mail and packages are delivered to your room once a day. You'll get faster mail and package delivery if you give your family and friends your exact location in the hospital. The complete address is:

Your Name
Patient Room #: ________
St. Mary's Hospital
350 Boulevard
Passaic, NJ 07055

Interpreters/Special Needs

St. Mary's provides access to interpreters via the AT&T Language Bank. Interpreters providing services in 170 different languages are available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Additionally, St. Mary's Hospital assists hard of hearing and deaf mute persons to communicate with physicians, nurses, and other hospital personnel. The patient can choose the type of communication they desire, including sign language, writing of notes, lip reading, etc., with an outside interpreter offered at no expense to the patient. The Hospital has a text telephone (TTY) available, which allows hard of hearing or deaf persons to communicate via telephone with standard phone users.

For more information on either one of these services, please ask your nurse.

Housekeeping

Our staff is here to ensure the cleanliness of your room and fulfill your housekeeping requests. For assistance please inform your nurse, and he/she will contact the appropriate personnel; or for immediate response, please call Ext. 4510.