Partnering with Our Patients
Hospitals across the country are working to make healthcare safety a priority. We encourage our patients to be active participants in their health care through the use of the “Speak Up” program.
Speak up if you have any questions or concerns and if you don’t understand, ask again.
Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Ask questions when you don’t understand.
Educate yourself about your diagnosis, medical tests, and your plan of care.
Ask a trusted family member or friend to be with you if you are unable to ask questions for yourself.
Know what medications you take.
Use a health care organization that has undergone rigorous on-site evaluations.
Participate in decisions about your treatment. You are the center of your health care team.
Hourly Rounding and Bedside Reporting
The nursing staff will be making hourly rounds to check on you and ask you if there is anything you need.
Your rest and healing is important to us. Each afternoon on the Medical-Surgical and Intensive Care Units, you can expect the care management team to visit you and ask you specific questions about your needs such as your ability to rest and knowledge about your condition.
When appropriate, the nursing staff will give report of your condition to the oncoming nurse in your presence in your room. This is an opportunity for you to interact with the nurses and ask questions about your plan of care.
Smoking Policy
Northern Maine Medical Center is a nonsmoking facility. Smoking is not allowed on the property of any of our locations. If you smoke and you would like some assistance to quit, speak with your nurse or doctor for more information.
Wheelchairs
Wheelchairs are available on all nursing units, but getting in and out of them without assistance may be hazardous. Please ask for help from a member of the hospital staff.
Fire Drills
For your protection, the hospital conducts fire and disaster drills regularly. If a drill occurs while you are here, please remain in your room and do not become alarmed. The hospital is a fire-resistant building, and the staff is trained in fire protection.
Oxygen
Special regulations are in effect in areas where patients are receiving oxygen. Electrically-operated equipment and aerosol products are not permitted in these areas.
Medications
All medications you take while in the hospital are prescribed by your doctor, dispensed by the hospital pharmacy and administered by a nurse. Patients are not permitted to administer their own drugs or keep personal medications at their bedsides. Family members are asked not to bring any medications to their hospitalized relative. Any medication from home will be sent back home, or to the pharmacy and returned to the patient upon discharge. A pharmacist is available to meet with you during your hospitalization to review your medications and to answer any questions you may have. Contact your nurse to coordinate a meeting with the pharmacist.
Personal or Lost Items
Patients are asked not to bring personal items to the hospital. If you do bring a personal item, it should be deposited in the hospital safe. You will be given a written receipt for all items, which must be presented when you withdraw them. The hospital does not accept responsibility for personal items unless they are deposited in the safe.