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We are pleased you chose our rural community health care facility for your medical needs. Our Medical/Surgical unit is designed for patients with a medical or surgical condition requiring hospitalization. Our unit also offers telemetry services for patients who required continuous cardiac monitoring. The nursing staff at Wyoming County Community Health System is committed to making you as comfortable as possible and providing the highest quality patient care.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR HOSPITAL STAY

During your stay in the Medical/Surgical unit, the nursing staff will inform you of your Plan of Care for the day. The Plan of Care consists of tests and treatments you are scheduled to receive as ordered by your physician. Keeping you informed about your plan of care is important to us.

Your caregivers for the shift will write their name, and any additional information that you may need on the white board in your room. The white board will help caregivers communicate with each other and keep track of your individualized needs during your hospital stay. Patients and families may use a section of the white board to communicate with staff as well.

One of your caregivers will check on you hourly to ensure your needs are being met. During this time your caregivers will be:

We will not wake you if you are sleeping unless we are asked to by your physician.

Pain is an uncomfortable feeling that tells you that something may be wrong in your body. The assessment tool to measure pain is a scale from 0 – 10. The numbers represent levels of pain. A “0” pain rating means you have no pain and a “10” rating means you have the worst pain imaginable. The middle of the scale, around “5”, shows moderate pain.

It is important that you are comfortable and can function to your full potential. If you don’t use pain control methods and try to “tough out” the pain, you may cause further health problems. When you are in pain you are unable to move and function as well. These changes may affect other areas of your health and cause further discomfort. The goal of our pain management program is to eliminate or at least minimize your pain.

We realize a hospital can be a noisy place; however, we are trying to reduce the noise level on all nursing units. If the level of noise prevents you from sleeping or is at all disturbing, please ask your nurse to close your door. If this does not help to reduce the noise level to an acceptable level please ask to speak with the Charge Nurse, Nursing Supervisor, of Nurse Manager so we may find a solution.

Discharge Planning

Planning for discharge is started upon admission to the hospital. We want you to feel that you are ready for discharge. We will be asking you about what family or friend supports you have to assist you after you are discharged. An RN or Social Worker from the Patient Family Services Department will be visiting you and helping to plan your discharge and arrange for home care services or rehabilitation services as needed. Prior to your discharge, your nurse will review your instructions which will help you care for yourself after you leave the hospital. If you have questions regarding your discharge plan, you may ask your nurse to contact Patient Family Services to assist you.

Wyoming County Community Health System is committed to reducing the incidence of patient falls. A fall risk screen is completed on every patient admitted to the hospital. If you are determined to be at risk for falling, a yellow magnetic circle will be placed on the doorway to your room. In addition, a yellow sticker will be place on your ID band. The yellow identifiers alert all caregivers to take extra precautions when providing care and assisting you in ambulation or transferring activities.

Wyoming County Community Health System is committed to reducing pressure ulcers in patients that spend prolonged periods in bed or in a chair. A pressure ulcer risk screen is completed on every patient admitted to the hospital. If you are determined to be at risk for pressure ulcers your caregivers are alerted to take extra precautions with skin care, turning and repositioning, providing optimal nutrition and hydration, and regular skin assessments during your hospital stay.

Infections can occur after many types of medical procedures. This is particularly true if you are having surgery. There are several things you can do to help prevent infections from developing while you are a patient in the hospital:

If possible, ask your friends and relatives not to visit if they themselves feel ill.

Please understand that Wyoming County Community Health System cannot take responsibility for any personal property. Valuables may be kept in the hospital safe or sent home; and you are responsible for all personal effects (including eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, and clothing) during your stay in the hospital.

As a patient of the Wyoming County Community Health System you and your family are considered partners in the care being provided. Being a partner means you have a responsibility as a patient to provide accurate medical information and communicate concerns. As a partner you have a responsibility to ask questions regarding your treatment plan and complying with the plan of care. It is our pleasure to serve you and your family. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about your services here.

Bedside telephones are available for $2.00/day for local calling. If you wish to make a long distance call you must reverse the charges, bill it to a credit card, calling card, or your home phone. To make a long distance call by any of these means, you may dial the Hospital operator at “0” to place the call. Please remember that you may dial any internal four-digit hospital extension at any time. Your families may reach you by calling the main hospital number (585) 786-2233 and the switchboard operator will be happy to connect your call to you or to the nursing unit. Payment for the telephone services can be done at discharge or the hospital will bill you directly.

WCCHS does not include television charges in your daily room rate. For inpatient stays, a $4.25 daily fee will be charged. Your nurses can turn the television on for you. You may pay for your television by using the payment envelope provided to you by the TeleHealth television representative. The envelope with payment enclosed may be deposited in the drop boxes located on the nursing units and on the first floor at the cashier’s window. You do not need to call and cancel your television service when discharged. To report problems with the television, please notify your nurse who will contact the maintenance department.

You will receive a menu booklet based upon your prescribed diet. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your diet order, please contact your nurse. The Nutritional Services Department provides meals in the morning (breakfast), mid-day (lunch), and evening (supper). Trays are delivered at approximately 7:15 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 5:30 p.m. Staff will be delivering your meal and assisting you in setting up and opening items on your tray as needed. They will also be offering you a snack in between your meal as your prescribed diet allows.