Please click here for information regarding concerns about your care.
Call Light
If you need help for any reason, push the nurse-call button and our patient care staff will respond as quickly as possible.
Side rails may be used to protect you from falling. If you feel that you or your loved one need all of the side rails up, please contact the nursing staff. Most of the time only two side rails will be up. If you need to get out of bed, please contact the nursing staff prior to doing so. This is especially important if you are dizzy, have had recent medication changes or have fallen in the past.
Electrical Equipment
For your safety, our staff must check out all personal electrical equipment brought into the hospital for patient use. Check with the nursing staff to have this done.
Food Ext. 3838
Your physician may order a special diet for you to assist in your recovery. If you are on a special diet, please check with your physician or nurse before accepting any food brought into the hospital by family or friends. Call Ext. 3838 for help with menus or for any concerns regarding your meals. Menus for the next day will be delivered on your breakfast tray. Please complete these and give them to the nursing staff.
Housekeeping Ext. 5008
Your room is cleaned once a day during your stay. This occurs between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The cleanliness of your room is very important to us. If you have any issues with the condition of your room, please call Environmental Services at Ext. 5008 so we may address your concerns.
Linen Services
Bed linens are changed as needed. Speak with the nurse if you have questions.
Mail Service
Your mailing address while you are in the hospital should include your name and room number. Send mail to:
University of Toledo Medical Center
3000 Arlington Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43614-2598
Mail arriving after your discharge will be forwarded to your home.
Medications
It is recommended that you bring a list of medicines you are currently taking, including the dosage and frequency of each. If you do bring actual medications with you, the staff will take note of them and then ask you to send them home with a family member. Your physician will prescribe any medicine you need during your hospital stay. When the circumstance exists where you need to take medicines from home, your nurse will let you know.
Newspapers
Newspapers are available daily through vending machines located on the first floor of the Hospital in the cafeteria near the doors to Dowling Hall.
Television
University of Toledo Medical Center provides free television services in all patient rooms. The programming includes all local stations, hospital information channels, and selected cable channels. All television functions can be controlled by the remote control unit by your bed.
Patient Education Television - Video on Demand
A variety of programs and information are available on cable television, as well as on our Patient Education Video-on-Demand system. Patient Education Television programs have been chosen by health professionals at the University of Toledo Medical Center to assist you our patients and families, in understanding your health problems. This is a free service provided on the television set in your room on channels 64 - 72. Using the phone in your room, you can call up a video title and watch it at your convenience. You are encouraged to ask your physician, nurse, therapist, dietitian or other health professional about programs which they would like you to view concerning your health needs. Your nurse can provide you with a list of titles and show you how to use the system. Any concerns related to content should be discussed with your physician. Also available on channel 73 and 76 is The Patient Channel and TIP-TV (Patient education TV channels from GE Healthcare and NBC).
Click here for the patient education video library.
Phone Service
Each bed has a telephone number (excluding the ICUs). Your phone is a direct line from the outside, and incoming calls can be received between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Your phone number is (419) 383- #### (see the number on the ceiling above the bed).
Please do not use cellular phones in patient care areas. These phones affect patient care equipment.
For Hospital Operator Assistance:
• Dial 0.
To Call Inside the Hospital:
• Dial the last 4 digits of the number.
Local Calls:
• Dial 9 + Area Code + Number.
Long-Distance Calls:
• Long-distance calls can be charged to your home phone or a credit card.
• Dial 88 + 0 + Area Code + Number.
Hearing-impaired patients may request special equipment (Pocket Talker, TTY). For further information, contact the Customer Care Center at Ext. 3606.
Click here for information on language assistance.
Smoking
Smoking is permitted inside the smoking hut at the east end of the visitor’s lot (Lot #1). It is not allowed in the hospital, in any buildings on the campus or near the entrances to the hospital.
DO NOT KEEP LARGE SUMS OF MONEY IN YOUR ROOM. You may wish to keep small amounts of money (for a newspaper, small purchases, etc.) and ask your family to bring additional money if you should need it.
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Physicians
Your physician has admitted you to the University of Toledo Medical Center because you need professional services and care. Your physician directs your treatment and may involve others:
Consulting Physicians – Specialists in a medical area who have been requested by your physician to participate in your care.
Residents – Medical physicians training in a specialty area.
Medical Students – Persons enrolled in medical school.
You may also see other professionals involved in your care (such as physical therapists, dietitians, physician assistants or paramedics). Your physician assumes responsibility for your care and is the head of the health care team.
You may be asked similar, sometimes identical questions. You may perceive this to be duplication of effort, but this actually provides more opportunity for higher quality health care for you. It also gives you and your family an opportunity to share information with a professional on your health care team, should you forget to tell your physician. If you prefer that certain professionals not participate in your care, please discuss this with your physician.
Nursing Staff
Nursing care is provided 24 hours a day. A professional Registered Nurse (RN) will be assigned to coordinate your care according to your nursing needs. You may also receive care from other nursing support staff such as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), Medical Assistants (MA), Patient Care Aides (PCA), Nursing Assistants (NA), Rehab Technician (RT) and nursing service clerks.
Allied Health Professionals
Allied Health Professionals include therapists and technologists who perform various tests and treatment procedures that you may need. You may see these people in the laboratory, the pharmacy, the heart station, the EEG laboratory, respiratory care, physical therapy, X-ray and clinical nutritional service areas.
Students
As an academic medical center, we provide education for students in many health care professions. These individuals are training to become physicians, nurses and physical therapists and are working under the direction of experienced professionals.
Care Coordinators Ext. 3872
Registered Nurses (RN) and Social Workers (SW) are available to assist you and your family during and after your hospital stay. The Care Coordination staff is trained to identify problems and issues that may arise during your stay and, together with you, your family, your physician and the other members of your health care team, help to resolve them. Care Coordinators can help arrange for needed care after your discharge and can help resolve financial problems that may arise from your illness.
Clinical Nutrition Ext. 4585
Staff includes Registered Dietitians (RD) and Diet Technicians (DT). They provide nutrition assessments and diet education. If you feel you would benefit from education on a special diet, you may wish to consult with your physician.
Pastoral Care Ext. 3851
Pastoral Care is available by calling Ext. 3851 or by dialing the hospital operator and requesting Pastoral Care. Not only are Pastoral Care clergy or trained volunteers available to you, but your own pastor is welcome to visit you at any time. Please let us know if we can help you with any of your spiritual needs.
Support Departments
Numerous other hospital support departments contribute to your experience at University of Toledo Medical Center and help make your stay here efficient, safe and pleasant. Among these include Admitting, Dietary, Medical Records, Housekeeping, Linen Services, Central Service, Maintenance, Campus Police, and the Business Office.
Volunteers Ext. 3835
Volunteers may also be part of your health care team. University of Toledo Medical Center volunteers and members of the Satellites Auxiliary of University of Toledo Medical Center donate their time and talent to escort patients, deliver mail and assist in the patient and family waiting rooms. They also operate the Gift Shop on the first floor near the cafeteria and raise funds to support hospital services and patient programs. If you are interested in receiving information on becoming a volunteer or a member of the Satellites Auxiliary, call Ext. 3835.
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| Your Comfort, Safety & Security |
Managing Pain
Pain is an unpleasant feeling that tells you something is happening with your body. After surgery, some procedures, or tests, you may experience pain. Only you can feel this pain. Your input is important. If your pain is not controlled your hospital stay and recovery may be longer. You, your doctors, and your nurses are the pain management team and you are the most important member.
Advance planning
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Ask questions regarding your surgery, procedure or tests that are scheduled to be performed. Understanding what’s going on may decrease your level of stress and anxiety.
Ask about the types of pain control available to you.
Ask when and how often you can take pain medication and what the side effects are.
Tell your doctor and nurse all the medicines (including vitamins and herbal supplements) you are currently taking (bring a list).
Tell your doctor and nurse about allergies (drug, food, etc), sensitivities or other similar problems. |
While in the hospital:
- Describe your pain:
| - Location(s) |
| - How the pain feels to you; burning, stabbing, etc. |
| - What makes your pain worse; walking, lying in bed, etc. |
| - What relieves your pain; distraction i.e. reading a book, using hot/cold compresses, etc. |
| - When your pain occurs; all the time, only in the morning, etc. |
| - How the pain has affected your daily activities; appetite, sleep, etc. |
- Take your pain medicine as soon as the pain begins. The likelihood of dependency (addiction) to narcotic medications for acute pain while under the supervision of a physician is minimal.
- You will be asked to describe your pain before and after receiving pain medicine. Staff will use the pain scale of 0 to 10. A rating of zero indicates the absence of pain and ten represents the worst.
- Ask about alternatives to medicine that can help with your pain. Examples are: music, reading, meditation, lighting, etc
Going home:
|
If you are still having pain, check with your doctor for treatment options.
If you know that your pain gets worse with activity, take your pain medicine before doing the activity.
Tell the doctor if the medicine is not managing your pain. |
Safety
The University of Toledo Medical Center continuously works to provide safe, quality care. Doctors, administrators, nurses, and staff all have a role in making your health care safe. As a patient, YOU can also help to make your care safe by becoming an active, involved and informed member of your health care team.
Speak up if you have questions. If you don’t understand, ask again. You have a right to know.
Pay attention to the care you are receiving regarding treatments and medications.
|
Identify yourself and the reason for your care.
Talk with your nurse or doctor if something doesn't seem safe or quite right.
Expect staff to introduce themselves, wear ID badges and check your ID band.
Request hand washing by staff in order to help prevent the spread of infections. |
Learn about your diagnosis, the tests and your treatment plan.
|
Gather information from your doctor, the library, respected web sites and support groups.
Ask your doctor for written information and write down important facts as you learn them.
Ask your doctor or nurse to explain any forms you are asked to sign.
Learn about equipment used in your care.
If you are on oxygen at home, do not smoke or allow anyone to smoke near you. |
Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.
|
Ask your advocate to think of any questions you may not think of and to help you remember
Write down questions that you want to ask. |
Know what medications you take and why you take them.
|
When receiving new medications, remind your doctor or nurses of allergies you have had in the past.
Ask about the reasons for the medications, about the side effects, and ask for any written materials.
When taking many medications, ask your pharmacist if they are safe together. This includes vitamins, herbal supplements and over-the-counter drugs.
Bring a list of your current medications with you for easy reference. |
Help prevent falls. Ask for help when you're "light headed" or unstable on your feet.
Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of our health care team
|
Ask your doctor what a test or medication is likely to achieve.
Upon discharge, know your plan of care, have a list of medications to take and what you can and cannot do at home.
If interested, ask to participate in support groups with others who have had similar treatments. |
Security
Valuables Ext. 3770
Patients are urged to send valuables (jewelry, expensive watches, items of sentimental value) home with family. If this is not possible, please contact Campus Police at Ext. 3770 and the items will be placed in the safe. Please make use of this procedure to safeguard your valuables. DO NOT KEEP THESE ITEMS IN YOUR HOSPITAL ROOM.
The hospital will not be responsible for the security of these items.
Campus Police Ext. 3770
The Campus Police Department is here to serve you. If you have any questions or notice anything of a suspicious nature, please call Ext. 3770.
Click here to see our HIPAA privacy information.
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Discharges
When your physician says you are ready to go home, he or she will write the order on your chart and give you instructions for follow-up care. As soon as you know about your discharge, please let relatives or friends know so your discharge can go smoothly.
Before you leave, check your nightstand, bedside tray and closets for any items you may have missed when packing. When you are ready, ring the nurses’ station with your call light. A nurse will discuss follow-up care with you and then you will be asked to sign your discharge instructions.
Making Appointments
If your physician wants to see you in the office for follow-up care, the nursing staff may assist you with making appointments at your request. Ask the physician or nurse for the direct telephone number to the office in case the appointment cannot be made before you leave the hospital. You may also call the UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO MEDICAL CENTER operator at (419) 383-4000 to obtain your physician’s telephone number if you did not get it before you were discharged.
Medical Alert
A help button, worn either as a necklace or bracelet, activates an emergency response system 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The message is automatically sent over telephone lines to a 24-hour monitoring center. Professional staff at the response center will immediately answer your call for help. Call VRI Lifeline at (800) 860-4230 for further information.
Please take a moment and fill out our patient survey regarding your stay.
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