Monmouth Medical Center Patient Guide - RWJBarnabas Health

patient Guide

Table of contents

Monmouth Medical Center

Tobacco and Smoke Free Campus

The hospital campus is tobacco and smoke free. This means thatsmoking and the use of all tobacco products including electroniccigarettes are prohibited inside all buildings and anywhere on thegrounds throughout the campus. Please be sure to speak to yournurse or doctor for more information about how to quit smoking.

Welcome to Monmouth Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Your Stay with Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Meeting your Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Honoring Your Wishes – Making Health Care Decisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Your Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Your responsibilities as a patient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Keeping You In Touch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14A Special Note for Family, Support Persons and Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Managing Your Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Preventing Infections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Medications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Staying Healthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Getting Ready to Leave Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Understanding Your Insurance Coverage and Your Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21After Discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Welcome to our patients

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We are pleased that you have chosen Monmouth Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility,for your health care. Our exceptional physicians, nurses, employees and volunteers will do theirbest to ensure that your hospitalization is clinically superior and as comfortable as possible.

In selecting Monmouth Medical Center, you are being treated at one of the eleven acute carehospitals of the largest health care delivery system in New Jersey and one of the leading systemsin the nation. RWJBarnabas Health also includes three acute care children’s hospitals and aleading pediatric rehabilitation hospital, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center,ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network,comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacyservices, a medical group, multi-site imaging centers and four accountable care organizations.

Our 32,000 employees, 9,000 physicians and nearly 1,000 residents and interns provide treatmentand services for more than two million patient visits each year. We strive at all times to provide thefinest quality care in the optimum healing environment.

RWJBarnabas Health receives widespread recognition for clinical excellence and patient safety.Among our nationally renowned services are: New Jersey’s only certified burn treatment facility(top 10 in the U.S.); world-class cardiac surgery services for adults (regionally ranked by U.S. News& World Report as high performing in cardiology and heart surgery); heart transplant program(ranked 2nd of adult programs in the U.S., performed more than 700 transplants); pediatric cardiacsurgery in partnership with NYU School of Medicine; New Jersey’s only lung transplant program;two kidney transplant centers, (ranked 3rd of 240 programs in the U.S.); primary and comprehensivestroke centers; certified advanced heart failure and acute coronary syndrome programs; wide rangeof robotic surgery services; renowned neurology and neurosurgery program; highly respectedassistive reproductive technology program; comprehensive cancer services for adults and children;and the full spectrum of women’s and children’s services.

As your partner in promoting the healthiest lifestyle for you and all of the members of ourcommunities, RWJBarnabas Health continues our mission by offering programs and services toensure your safety and introduce paths for wellness. Should you have a particular need, please call1-888-724-7123 or visit our website at www.barnabashealth.org.

Thank you for choosing Monmouth Medical Center. Our entire team wishes you good health.

Cordially,

Barry H. OstrowskyPresident and Chief Executive OfficerRWJBarnabas Health

Welcome to Monmouth Medical Center

Welcome to Monmouth Medical Center and The Unterberg Children's Hospital atMonmouth Medical Center, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to meet yourhealth care needs. As our patient – and as our guest – your health and healing iswhat matters most of all to us.

We sincerely hope that your stay at Monmouth is as comfortable, restful and brief aspossible. Be assured that every member of your health care team is here for you – toensure you receive the care and services you need, any time, day or night.

We understand that hospitalization can be a stressful and anxious time for everyone.To help you become familiar with Monmouth Medical Center and your medical care,this Patient Guide provides a wealth of helpful information on services to assist youand your visitors. If you need any additional information, please do not hesitate toask any member of your health care team or contact the Patient SatisfactionDepartment at ext. 36695 or 732.923.6695 from outside the hospital. We are alwaysavailable to offer assistance, and address any concern, question or suggestion youmay have.

When you return home, you may receive a survey in the mail that asks about yourstay with us. We encourage you to complete the questionnaire and return it as yourresponse is extremely important to us.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and our entire staff, I want to extend our very bestwishes to you for a speedy recovery and a healthy life.

Sincerely,

Bill ArnoldPresident and Chief Executive OfficerMonmouth Medical Center

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Communicating To MeetYour Needs: Do You NeedAn Interpreter?If you do not speak English or prefer to useanother language, please tell your nurse.We will provide you with a language linetelephone to talk to you.

Si el inglés no es el idioma que prefierepara comunicarse, por favor hágaselosaber a su enfermera. Leproporcionaremos una línea telefónica deinterpretación de idiomas para ayudar acomunicarnos con usted.

The Patient Experience Our goal is to deliver high-quality,compassionate, patient-centered care. Ourpatients come first, and we are devoted toensuring each patient experiences superiorservice.

Every one of our employees, plays a role inshaping and enhancing our patients’experiences. We expect all of our staff todo what is in the best interest of ourpatients and their families every day, inevery moment.

Your Stay with UsWe know:

✻ you expect an environment that isclean and safe.

✻ that healing occurs faster when wereduce your anxiety by making certainyour pain is controlled

✻ when we keep you informed andinvolved with your care, particularlyhelping you to understand yourmedications, that your road to wellnessis faster.

All staff are required to wear photoidentification badges. Your health careteam should introduce themselves whenthey enter your room and explain their rolein your care. As part of our Patient SafetyInitiatives, please expect that our teammembers will be checking youridentification bracelet often and askingyou to state your name so that youridentity can be verified.

Should you have any concerns during yourstay, please speak to your nurse or contactthe Department of Patient Satisfaction at732-923-6695.

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Monmouth Medical Center is committed toproviding quality and compassionatehealth services to all persons regardless ofage, race, religion, gender identity, sexualpreference, national origin or disability.Monmouth Medical Center will strive torecognize the dignity of all persons and toassure that those who rely on the hospitalfeel physically, spiritually and emotionallysafe and secure.

Hearing NeedsMonmouth Medical Center will provideappropriate auxiliary aids and services topatients who are hearing impaired orrequire the use of a sign languageinterpreter. Patients who communicatethrough sign language may be provided aqualified interpreter free of charge whowill work with the patient and the healthcare team if requested.

If you have a special hearing need relatedto telephone equipment, please speak toyour nurse. Accommodations can be madeto amplify the sound or provide a TTYtelecommunication keyboard.

Spiritual NeedsDealing with an illness is hard and cancreate a very stressful time in our lives andthe lives of our families and friends.Monmouth Medical Center’s chaplain andclergy team are available to support youand your family during this time. Inaddition, Pastoral Care Services worksclosely with our Social Work Departmentto ensure your family is aware of thesupport programs that are available withinthe community. To reach the Pastoral CareServices team, please call ext. 36611. AnInterfaith Chapel is located on the firstfloor, next to the cafeteria. The Chapel isopen 24 hours a day.

Support and GuidanceNeedsUndergoing medical care can be stressful.It is important to have a trusted familymember or friend serve as your ‘supportperson’ to help you remember questionsyou may want to ask and/or answers tothe questions you have asked. Pleaseidentify your support person to us so thatwe can include them in conversationsabout your medical care.

Meeting your Needs

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Managing Your ValuablesWe strongly urge you to send yourvaluables, including cash, credit cards andjewelry home. If necessary, valuables canbe secured within the hospital’s SecurityDepartment, where they will remain untilyou are discharged.

We recognize that you will need to keepyour eyeglasses, hearing aids and/ordentures with you during your stay. Pleasebe certain to keep these items in a safelocation in your room, as we cannot beresponsible for these items. Do not placeimportant items on your meal tray, intissues or napkins or in drinking cups asthey may become lost. Utilize the storagecompartments in your bedside table orbedside stand and always use a denturecup to store dentures.

Lost and foundTo inquire about an item that has beenlost, call ext. 37777.

Dietary Needs:Our Food Services Department is able toprovide many different types of foods.Please speak to your nurse about anyspecial dietary needs you may have.

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Kosher food disclaimer:This institution serves pre-packaged andfrozen food items that have beenrepresented by the vendor to have beenprepared and packaged underrequirements for proper kosher handling.Such items may or may not be included inthe following categories: meat, poultry,fish, eggs, flavors, filling and cremes,natural or health foods, wine and grapeproducts, dairy products, pareve foods,shortening and oil, emulsifiers breads,rolls, challah, bagels, bialys, cakes,pastries, doughnuts. Items are served intheir original packaging, and not co-mingled with non-kosher food items.

For additional information regarding ourKosher Foods, please contact arepresentative from the Food ServiceDepartment at ext. 31759.

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You and your doctor know more about yourhealth and your health needs than anyoneelse. Choices about your medicaltreatment should be made between youand your doctor.

Advance DirectivesYour right to make health care decisionswill be discussed with you throughout yourhospital stay. Under New Jersey law, youhave the right to plan ahead for yourhealth care. Your Advanced Directives willinstruct others how to care for you if youare unable to decide for yourself due toillness or accident. Should you wish tocomplete an Advanced Directive or havequestions, please ask to speak to amember of our Case Management Team.In addition, if there is a question ordisagreement about your health carewishes, we have a Bioethics Committeethat can assist.

POLST (Physician Orders for LifeSustaining Treatment)Another way to make your wishes knownis through the development of a POLSTform. Your POLST form will travel withyou and must be honored in all healthcare settings. You can modify your POLSTform at any time by speaking with yourdoctor. For more information, please askyour doctor.

Bioethics CommitteeThis committee is comprised ofphysicians, nurses, administrators, socialworkers and other health care workerswho provide assistance, free of charge, topatients, families and health careprofessionals who are faced withextremely difficult medical decisions.

You can speak with a member of theBioethics Committee anytime by callingthe Operator and asking to speak to amember of the Bioethics team.

Honoring Your Wishes – MakingHealth Care Decisions

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Organ and Tissue Donation -The Gift of Life

The concept of organ and tissue donationdeserves thoughtful consideration by everyone,for one donor can change the lives of up to 75individuals. A federal law now requireshospitals to perform specific blood tests for allpatients who may be a candidate for organ ortissue donation in the future as part of theirroutine care. If you have chosen to be an organdonor on your driver’s license, your wishes willbe honored. For more information about organdonation, or to obtain an organ donor card,contact the New Jersey Organ and TissueSharing Network at 1.800.SHARE.NJ, or speakto a nurse or doctor.

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✻ Receive information and communicationin an understandable manner andpreferred language, including theprovision of interpreter and translationservices as soon as possible.

✻ Receive information and communicationin a form that accommodates vision,hearing, speech or cognitiveimpairments.

✻ Receive, in terms that you understand,information about your medicalcondition, including recommendedtreatment, risks, expected results andreasonable alternatives.

✻ Formulate advanced directives andhave staff honor those directives.

✻ Be informed of the hospital’s policiesand procedures regarding life-savingmethods and the use or withdrawal oflife-support mechanisms.

✻ Receive a reasonable response toreasonable requests for services.

✻ Leave the hospital against the adviceof a physician.

✻ Examine and receive an explanation ofthe bill for services regardless of thesource of payment.

✻ Receive a copy of the hospital’spayment rates, regardless of the sourceof payment.

✻ Be informed of what your healthcare needs will be after discharge.

As a patient you have certain rightsprovided to you by law and regulation.Your first right is the right to be informedof these rights prior to the starting orstopping of care. These are your rightsregardless of your age, color, race,religion, national origin, sex, sexualpreference, sexual orientation, genderidentity, gender expression, geneticpredisposition, handicap or disability,marital status, pregnancy status, ability topay or source of payment or for services inthe United States Armed Forces.

You have the right to:✻ Know the risks, benefits and

alternatives to proposed treatmentsor procedures

✻ To know the names and functions ofall those who provide care,treatment and services to you.

✻ Receive information in easy tounderstand terms that will allow you togive an informed consent.

✻ Physical Privacy and Confidentialityregarding medical care.

✻ Participate in your plan of care,including notifying your family orphysician of admission and dischargeplanning.

✻ Pain management.

✻ Refuse care, treatment and services,including medications after receivinginformation that you can understand.

✻ Be informed about the outcomes ofcare, treatment and services.

Your Rights

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✻ Receive assistance from the healthcare team in arranging follow-upcare and public or private assistance towhich you may be entitled.

✻ Receive sufficient time beforedischarge to have arrangementsmade for your health care needs afterdischarge.

✻ Be told by the hospital about thedischarge appeal process.

✻ Receive all the hospital care that isnecessary for the proper diagnosis andtreatment of your illness or injury.According to federal law, yourdischarge date must be determinedsolely by your medical needs, not by“DRGs” or Medicare payments. AllMedicare patients will receive adetailed notice about these rights andhow to appeal these decisions duringyour admission.

✻ Be transferred to another hospital ifthis hospital is unable to providethe care that you need or when yourequest to be transferred.

✻ Receive an explanation from thephysician as to why you are beingtransferred, the risks, and thearrangements made by thehospital.

✻ Select providers of goods andservices after discharge.

✻ Receive a Notice of Privacy Practices.

✻ Request privacy protection.

✻ Have prompt access to yourmedical record.

✻ Access protected healthinformation in a reasonable time frameand be able to request copies ofmedical record information for areasonable fee.

✻ Amend protected healthinformation.

✻ Request accounting of disclosures ofprotected health information.

✻ Be free from any forms of restraints orseclusion as a means of coercion,retaliation or convenience.

✻ The least restrictive restraint orseclusion to be used only whennecessary to ensure patient safety.

✻ Care regardless of your age, color,race, religion, national origin, sex,sexual preference, sexual orientation,gender identity, gender expression,genetic predisposition, handicap ordisability, marital status, pregnancystatus, ability to pay or source ofpayment or for services in the UnitedStates Armed Forces.

✻ Receive care in a safe and dignifiedenvironment, free from all forms ofabuse, neglect, harassment and/orexploitation.

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✻ Be treated with courtesy, considerationand respect for your dignity andindividuality.

✻ To have access to individual storage spacefor the storage of your personalbelongings.

✻ Protection and respect of your rights if youare participating in a human researchclinical trial once you have consented.

✻ Be informed when the hospital hasallowed other health care andeducational institutions to participatein your care.

✻ Contract directly with a New Jerseylicensed registered professional nurseof the patient’s choosing for privateprofessional.

✻ Have a support person during careprovided if it does not interfere with therights of other patients or the careprocesses.

✻ Receive in writing the hospital’s rulesabout visitors. Consent to receive thevisitors who you designate, including butnot limited to a spouse, domestic partner(including a same sex domestic partner),another family member or a friend. Towithdraw your consent to receive anyvisitor at any time.

✻ The extent that this hospital placeslimitations or restrictions on visitation, theright to set any preference of order orpriority for your visitors to satisfy thoselimitations or restrictions.

✻ Present your grievance to the staffmember designated by the hospital torespond to grievances and to receivea timely response to those concerns.

✻ Treatment and medical serviceswithout discrimination based on yourage, color, race, religion, nationalorigin, sex, sexual preference, sexualorientation, gender identity, genderexpression, genetic predisposition,handicap or disability, marital status,pregnancy status, ability to pay orsource of payment or for services inthe United States Armed Forces.

✻ All patients are offered a personalcopy of the Patient’s Bill of Rightsupon registration at the facility. Thepatient’s acceptance/declination isrecorded in the registration system.

✻ Lodge a concern with the stateand/or other accreditingorganization whether you have usedthe hospital’s complaint and concernsprocess or not. If you have concernsregarding the quality of your care,coverage decisions or want to appeala premature discharge, contact theState Quality ImprovementOrganization. Contact information is listed in the green box on the next page.

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Our Patient ExperiencePromise RWJBarnabas Health’s ultimate goal is todeliver high quality, compassionate,family-centered care. Our patients comefirst, and we are devoted to ensuring eachpatient experiences superior service.

Every one of our employees, no mattertheir title or job description, plays a role inshaping and enhancing our patients’experiences. We expect all of our staff todo what is in the best interest of ourpatients and their families every day, inevery moment.

At RWJBarnabas Health, we always havetime for our patients and we work togetheras a team to care for all aspects of theirneeds.

We are privileged to be present during themost vulnerable moments of our patients’lives and pledge to provide care in anempathetic, kind and respectful manner.

We know that being in the hospital can bevery stressful and the amount ofinformation we provide could beoverwhelming. To help you once you are

home, you will receive a follow-uptelephone call from us shortly afterdischarge. This will allow you to ask anyquestions that you may have now that youare home. In addition, you may receive asurvey asking you to evaluate your stay atthe hospital. Your feedback is veryvaluable, as we continue to improve ourcare and services and strive to alwaysmeet or exceed your expectations.

You and your loved ones are a vital part ofour organization. We commit to you thatwe will work together to resolve yourconcerns as quickly as possible.

Ensuring your safety and comfort isimportant to us. Expressing your concernsto us as they develop provides us with theopportunity to make things right duringyour stay. Our staff and leaders areavailable to you to address any concernsor contact our Patient SatisfactionDepartment at ext. 36695 for assistance inaddressing your concerns. In addition,every patient or patient representative hasthe right to contact any of the agencieslisted below to voice their concerns.

In addition, we recognize your right to contact the New Jersey Departmentof Health, The Joint Commission, our Accrediting Organization or the StateQuality Improvement Organization. Contact information for thoseorganizations is listed below:

❑ NJ Department of Health Complaint Hotline at 1.800.792.9770.

❑ Office of Quality Monitoring at The Joint Commission 1.800.994.6610 orvia e-mail at [email protected].

❑ The Office of the Medicare Ombudsman’s atwww.cms.hhs.gov/center/ombudsman.asp.

❑ State Quality Improvement Organization: Livanta at 1.866.815.5440.

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Health care is a partnership between thecare team and the patient. As a patientyou need to do the following:

✻ Provide, to the best of your knowledge,accurate and complete informationabout the condition of your health. Thisincludes past illnesses, hospitalizations,medications (prescriptions, herbalremedies, supplements, etc.) and whatyour wishes are regarding your care.

✻ It is expected that you will not takedrugs that have not been prescribed foryou and that you will not complicate orendanger the healing process byconsuming alcoholic beverages or toxicsubstances during your hospital stayand or visit.

✻ To assume responsibility for yourpersonal belongings that you choose tokeep with you.

✻ Ask questions when you do notunderstand.

✻ Tell us when you are in pain or yourpain treatment is not working

✻ Follow instructions and follow the planfor your care.

✻ Tell us about any problems you mayhave about following your care plan orcourse of treatment.

✻ Maximize healthy habits, such asexercising, not smoking and eating ahealthy diet.

✻ Follow hospital rules and regulationsconcerning patient care, conduct,visitation and safety.

✻ If you have questions or problemsconcerning your care, that you speakwith your physician, nurse or other staffmember before you leave.

✻ Be considerate of others. Respect theirrights to privacy, observe smoking andvisitor rules, and help create a healingenvironment by using your telephone (ifpermitted), television, controlling noiseand lights in a courteous manner.

✻ Meet financial obligations. Understandyour insurance coverage and options.Provide accurate information aboutyour health insurance and personalidentification for billing purposes.

Your responsibilities as a patient

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Visiting HoursTo provide quality care and privacy to ourpatients and to foster a healingenvironment, we ask that you observevisiting hours as posted in the main lobbyand on our website.

Cellular Phones and CamerasAs part of our continuing efforts tomaintain patient privacy andconfidentiality while promoting a healing,soothing environment; the taking ofphotographs and videos is not permitted.In addition, we encourage patients andvisitors to be considerate when usingcellphones as sounds tend to travel andmay disturb other patients. Pleaseconsider stepping off the patient care unitwhen using your cell phone.

Free WiFiRWJBarnabas Health offers patients andfamilies free WiFi Internet access.

Step1

Locate the WiFi settings on your deviceand add our network name in all Caps:BHGUEST (note: our network name is notbroadcasted)

Step 2

Set the Security type to WPA2 / WPA2-PSKStep 3

Enter the password: bhwifi!!In the event that users still cannotconnect to the network, please directthem to contact our RWJBarnabas GuestWireless Support Desk at 877-265-7582.

Keeping You In Touch

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For the comfort of our patients, we askthat our visitors observe the following:

✻ Please limit the number of visitors atthe bedside to two and be considerateabout the length of your visit.

✻ Whenever possible, ask the nursingstaff if there are specific times whenyour presence would be beneficial tothe patient’s comfort or your peace of mind.

✻ Please do not adjust any siderails,cribrails or equipment that may be inuse without consulting the nurse.

✻ Assist us in creating a quiet, soothingand healing environment.

✻ Clean your hands upon entry and exit ofthe hospital room.

✻ Adhere to the policy regarding visitinghours.

✻ Visitors who are visibly ill (i.e. sneezing,coughing, etc.) should not visit.

✻ Please check with the nurse regardingdietary restrictions before offering anyfood/beverage to a patient.

✻ You may be asked to leave the roomduring a physician visit or treatment.This is to respect the privacy of ourpatients.

✻ Because you know your loved one best,you may “sense” that “something justdoes not look or feel right” even whenthis change may not be obvious to thestaff. As partners in the care process, ifyou feel your family member isexperiencing a worsening of theircondition that the staff do not seem tobe aware of, please bring this changeto the attention of the patient’s nurseso that they can conduct an evaluationof the situation. In addition to thepatient’s nurse, we maintain a team ofspecially trained clinicians who areable to come to the bedside and assistthe nursing staff in assessing patientswho are experiencing a worseningcondition. This team is called our RapidResponse Team. We encourage ourpatients and visitors to access theRapid Response Team if they feeladditional help is needed by dialing 0for the hospital operator.

✻ Visitors and support persons must gethelp from clinical staff wheneverthere is a real or perceived need toconnect or disconnect devices orinfusions.

A Special Note for Family, SupportPersons and Friends

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Pain management is an important part ofyour healing. It is important that we worktogether to manage your pain and keepyou as comfortable as possible.

Help us to help you by telling us:

✻ when you have pain.✻ when your pain medication is not

working. ✻ if you have any concerns about taking

pain medication.✻ if you are experiencing any side effects

from your pain medication such asnausea, constipation, dizziness, itching,etc.

✻ any other questions or concerns youmay have about your pain.

Managing Your Pain

Speak Up!Everyone has a role in making health caresafe. Health care organizations across thecountry are working to make health caresafety a priority. You, as the patient, playa vital role in making your care safe bybeing an active, involved and informedmember of your health care team.

The “Speak Up™” program urges patientsto get involved in their care. (See boxbelow).

S Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don’t understand, ask again. It’syour body and you have a right to know.

P Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you’re getting the right treatmentsand medications by the right health care professionals. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

E Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing, and yourtreatment plan.

A Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.

K Know what medications you take: how and why you take them and their side effects.

U Use a hospital clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that hasundergone rigorous on-site evaluation against established, state-of-the-art quality andsafety standards, such as that provided by The Joint Commission.

P Participate in all decisions about your treatment.

You are the center of the health care team.

We continually look for opportunities to improve the care and services we offer by lookingto those who provide services and those who receive our services to help us identify qualityand safety concerns. We value your input on how we can continue to improve the qualityand safety of the care we provide. Should you have a quality or safety concern orsuggestion, we encourage you to contact our Performance Improvement Department at ext. 36501.

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Keeping Safe and Healthy

1. Don't share personal items.Toothbrushes, towels, razors,handkerchiefs and nail clippers can all besources of infectious agents (bacteria,viruses, and fungi).

2. Cover your mouth when you cough orsneeze. Many diseases are spread throughsneezes and coughs. When you sneeze orcough, the germs can travel three feet ormore. Cover your mouth and nose toprevent the spread of infection to others.Keep tissues handy at home, work and inyour pocket. Be sure to throw away usedtissues and then clean your hands. Avoidsneezing or coughing into your hands; usethe fold area of your elbow to provideprotection.

3. If you are sick, stay away from otherpeople. Stay home if you have a fever. Callwork or school and let them know you aresick. When you go for medical treatments,call ahead and ask if there’s anything youcan do to avoid exposing people in thewaiting room

Keeping you safe and preventinginfections is a priority to us. The singlemost important thing you and your visitorscan do to help prevent infections is toalways wash/clean your hands and makesure that EVERYONE who touches you alsowashes/cleans their hands. It is okay touse either soap and water or the handsanitizers. You and your visitors should notbe afraid or embarrassed to speak up andask those who are caring for you towash/clean their hands.

To use hand sanitizers, apply the cleanerto the palm of your hand and rub yourhands together. Keep rubbing over all thesurfaces of your fingers and hands,including between your fingers until theyare dry.

Wash your hands with soap and warmwater for at least 15 seconds. That’s aboutthe same amount of time that it takes tosing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.

Key times to wash/clean hands are uponentering or leaving a room, before eatingand after using the restroom.

Vaccinations - Make sure that yourvaccinations are current – even for adults.

Preventing Infections

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Flu (Influenza) VaccineThe virus that causes flu changes everyyear and that is why getting the flu shotevery year is important. The flu is aserious disease that can spread easilyfrom one person to another. It is never toolate to get the flu shot.

Who Should Get the “Flu Shot”?Everyone over the age of 6 months of ageshould get the flu shot every year.

The best time to get the flu shot isbetween October 1 and March 31 eachyear. It takes about two weeks for the fluvaccine to take effect. Please ask yournurse for more details.

Pneumonia(Pneumococcal) VaccineThe pneumonia vaccine protects you fromcertain types of pneumonia.Pneumococcal disease can lead to seriousillness and even death.

Who Should Get the“Pneumonia Shot”?✻ All patients age 5 to 64 who smoke,

have diabetes, asthma, COPD (chronicobstructive pulmonary disease), kidneydisease or HIV.

✻ All adults 65 and older if they have notreceived the vaccine previously.

✻ Anyone over 2 years of age who haslong-term health problems.

✻ Anyone over 2 years of age who has adisease that lowers the body’sresistance to infection (renal failure,organ transplant, Hodgkins, lymphoma,myeloma, absence of spleen, HIV).

✻ Anyone over 2 years of age who istaking any drug/treatment that lowersthe body’s resistance to infection.

✻ Residents of long-term care facilities.

Please talk to your doctor or nurse aboutthe vaccine.

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Medications from HomeIf you bring your medications with you,please show them to your nurse, and thehospital will safely store this for youduring your hospitalization or request yourfamily to take them home for you.

Helping You Move SafelyAt Monmouth Medical Center, we want tomake your stay as safe and comfortable aspossible. In order to help ensure maximumsafety, comfort and quality of care duringyour stay, we have instituted the followingsafe lifting and repositioning procedures:

✻ Introduced advanced patient handlingequipment and repositioning aids.

✻ Adopted new safe lifting guidelinesdesigned to prevent injury to you aswell as members of our nursing staff.

✻ Initiated an awareness campaign toinform our patients, their loved ones,and hospital staff members of the needto practice safe lifting at all times.

✻ Manual lifting of patients isdiscouraged in all but exceptionalmedical emergencies or lifethreatening situations.

Your Medication ListWhenever you visit any member of yourhealth care team, it is important that youbring a list of all of the medications thatyou are taking. This list should includeover-the-counter products, vitamins, herbalremedies and other supplements. The listshould include the dose and how often youare taking the medication. Never hesitateto ask questions about this list or the sideeffects to your medications.

Always keep this list up-to-date. Anytimeyour medications change, update the list.If you need help, ask your doctor, nurse,pharmacist or family member to help you.Carry your medication list with you.

When you are leaving us, we will provideyou with a new updated list ofmedications. Your physician and nurse willreview this list with you and provide youwith instructions on how to take yourmedications and additional informationregarding the side effects of thesemedications. Never hesitate to askquestions about your medications. Pleaseshare this list with your other health careproviders that you will visit following yourdischarge.

Medications

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✻ Patient self-mobility and independenceare encouraged whenever practical.Safe patient handling equipment,including electrically powered patientlifts, will be used to assist you in theevent you are unable to lift yourself.

✻ Patients who are medicated or cannotfollow directions, and who requirephysical assistance, may be required touse the safe patient handlingequipment.

We sincerely appreciate your cooperation.

Staying HealthyHealth screeningsMany health issues can be preventedthrough early detection and treatment.Take advantage of our ongoing communityhealth and wellness programs that offerscreenings for certain health-relatedconditions such as high blood pressure,diabetes, and skin cancer. Most screenings are provided at no cost or for a nominal fee.

Visit barnabashealth.org/monmouth forour monthly calendar.

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Planning for your discharge begins on your first day with us. Our goal during yourstay in the hospital is to start you on theroad to better health. Ensuring that youunderstand the next steps and are involvedin making those decisions is important.Members of your health care team willprovide you with choices and help guideyou through making the decision that isright for you. Remember to ask questionsand be certain you understand how to takecare of yourself or loved one before youleave. Detailed instructions on how to carefor yourself are given when you areleaving, but you should never hesitate tocontact us should you still have questions.

UnderstandingYour InsuranceCoverage andYour BillThe following information has beenprovided to help patients understand thebilling practices of this institution and tohelp them identify both theirresponsibilities as well as those of thehospital.

Utilization reviewUnder Chapter 83 of New Jersey StateLaw, all patients admitted to MonmouthMedical Center, regardless of type ofinsurance coverage, must have their needfor admission and continued stay in thehospital evaluated by the CaseManagement Department.

Patient Responsibilitiesfor Bills✻ Familiarize yourself with your insurance

coverage.

✻ Make it a practice to always carry yourhealth insurance cards with you.

✻ Review your coverage prior to needingservices.

✻ Know the co-pay and deductibleamounts for which you are responsible.You will be asked about this at the timeof service.

✻ Know the type of insurance plan inwhich you are enrolled: Managed Care(POS, HMO, PPO) or Indemnity. If youare covered by Medicare, know if it is atraditional plan or through an HMO.

Getting Ready to Leave Us

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✻ Know what your carrier requires inorder to submit a claim: policy number,pre-certification, group number, referralfrom primary care provider andemployer name.

✻ Know what physicians and services arecovered under your plan.

✻ If you are covered by more than oneplan, know which plan is primary andwhich is secondary.

✻ Know the mailing address of yourcarrier for claim submissions andinquiries.

Financial CounselingMonmouth Medical Center offers in-housefinancial counselors to assist you withobtaining state Medicaid coverage orfinancial programs to qualified recipients.Patients who do not qualify for theseprograms can be set up on a payment plan.Please call ext. 37209 for assistance in anyof these programs. Payments can be madeat our Cashier Window, located just off themain lobby on the first floor. For yourconvenience, we accept Visa, MasterCard,Discover, and American Express.

BillingOnce the Business Office submits a claimon your behalf, your insurance carriershould notify you of its processing/payment decisions via an Explanation ofBenefits (EOB). This will summarize thecharges incurred during your stay and thepayment made to the hospital as well asthe amount you are responsible for. TheEOB will outline any co-pays, coinsurancesor deductibles for which the patient isresponsible. Co-pays and deductibles aredue at the time of service. This should helpin determining any balance billing that youshould receive from the Business Office ofMonmouth Medical Center.

Professional chargesOur attending physicians are independentcontractors or private attending physiciansnot employed by our hospital, unlessotherwise indicated. Monmouth MedicalCenter contracts with independent groupsof specialized physicians, such asradiologists, emergency medicinephysicians, radiation oncologists,pathologists, anesthesiologists, and otherdoctors who may be called upon to takepart in your medical care. These physiciansare independent contractors, not employedby Monmouth Medical Center, who willbill you separately for the services theyprovide. It is recommended that youalways speak with your physicianregarding their identity and their affiliationwith our hospital.

For questions about your bill, please contact the Business Office at 1-855-277-1317.

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Obtaining Copies of YourMedical RecordsShould you require a copy of your medicalrecord, please contact our HealthInformation Management Department atext. 37400. In order to protect your privacyor the privacy of your loved one, properidentification will be required to obtainyour medical record. Our staff will assistyou in completing the required paperworkto obtain a copy of your record.

Accessing Your Health Information via the Patient PortalRWJBarnabas Health patients in ourfacilities and emergency departments cannow enroll for access to the RWJBarnabasHealth Patient Portal. A secure websitethat allows easy, immediate, secure andfree access to your medical information —including your current medications,allergies, immunizations, health issues andpast select lab results, as well aseducational materials. The Patient Portalcan be accessed from anywhere with anInternet connection.

After DischargeTo enroll while you are a patient in ourfacility or emergency department:

✻ Provide your email address to our staffmember or nurse; you will receive asecurity code, which will be used toclaim your invitation online.

✻ Look for an email invitation fromRWJBarnabas Health that contains asecure, unique link for you to completeregistration.

✻ Enter your security code; confirm yourname, date of birth and zip code; thenchoose a username, password, and asecurity question and answer.

✻ Once enrolled, access your account athttps://barnabashealthpatientportal.iqhealth.com.

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barnabashealth.orgPlease visit us on the RWJBarnabas Healthwebsite at www.barnabashealth.org. The websiteis simple to use and designed to provideinformation about the many varied health careservices within the system to help you in meetingyour health care needs.

With a simple click you can take advantage ofinteractive tools available on our site like taking acardiac risk assessment, watching videointerviews with our expert physicians discussinganswers to frequent questions in a number ofmedical specialties, as well as learn about specialprograms and technology and get easy directionsto all sites. Click again to check out our calendarof events and health-related topics we sponsorweekly on cable television. Our website also canassist you in selecting physicians affiliated withRWJBarnabas Health by specialty or by insuranceprograms

Get Social with Us

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300 Second Avenue, Long Branch, New Jersey 07740 www.barnabashealth.org

To reach the following departments from within Monmouth Medical Center, simply dial theextension listed. When calling from outside the hospital, dial the main number, followed bythe extension when prompted.

Important phone numbers

If you do not have a primary care physician, please call our free Physician Referral Serviceat 1.888.724.7123 for a referral.

Main Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .732.222.5200 or “0”Breast Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 37700Business Office (Billing) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.855.277.1317Cardiac Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 36595Cashier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 35022 Case Management/Discharge Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 36950Center for Diabetes Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 35025 Community Health Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 36990Concierge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 37470Emergency Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 37300Environmental Services (Housekeeping) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 37494Financial Counseling (Charity Care) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 37208Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 36886Geriatric Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 37550Gift Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 37670 Infection Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 36506Lost and Found/Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 37777Medical Records (Health Information Management) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 37400Nutrition and Food Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 31759Pastoral Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 36002Patient Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 31000Patient Satisfaction/Patient Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 36695Pharmacy (Retail) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 36111Physician Referral Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.888.724.7123Social Work Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 36950Volunteer Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 36670Wound Treatment Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ext. 36060