Grace Medical Center:

• Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as:

• Qualified sign language interpreters
• Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)

• Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as:

• Qualified interpreters
• Information written in other languages

Please ask any member of our care team for assistance.

Personal Cellphones
The use of cellphones is permitted in the hospital unless noted in a specific area. Cellphones are restricted after admission to behavioral health areas.

Hospital Phones
The phone in your hospital room has a direct number to enable your family and friends to reach you easily. The number will be posted in your room.
• Local calls: Dial 9 followed by the 10-digit phone number.
• Long-distance calls may be placed by dialing 0. They will be billed to your home number, unless placed as a collect call.
• In-hospital calls may be placed by calling the recipient’s four-digit extension.

We strongly recommend and encourage that a patient’s personal belongings be sent home with family members when possible. The hospital is not responsible for any belongings that you decide to keep in your room including, but not limited to, dentures, eyeglasses, hearing aids or any prosthetic devices. If possible, please send items such as jewelry, cash and credit cards home with loved ones. Should you need a place to put your valuables, please contact your nurse.

Valuables such as wallets, purses, checkbooks, credit cards, cash, identification, jewelry and small electronic devices, may be placed in the Security safe during your stay and will be retrieved at the time of discharge. When not in use, dentures, glasses and hearing aids should be placed in plastic containers that may be obtained on the unit. Please do not wrap these items in tissue paper and do not place them on meal trays or in the bed. The hospital will not assume financial responsibility for your belongings.

If you are in need of the services of a notary public, please call 410-362-3311.

Going Home
The discharge process is completed as early in the day as possible. It is important that you make arrangements for going home.  Your nurse, case manager or social worker will be happy to assist you with arranging transportation for getting home if you need assistance.

Here are some important guidelines for discharge:

• A member of your health care team will discuss follow-up treatment with you and make sure you have a ride home.
• Please arrange for a friend or family member to accompany you home.  This individual may park in the main visitor lot and then come to your room.
• A hospital employee will escort you to meet your ride.

Information to help you prepare for discharge
The following information is provided to assist you during your hospital stay and to help you prepare for discharge.  We encourage you to participate in your health care by collaborating with your health care team during education periods and by asking questions about those things that you do not understand.

You will receive education during your hospital stay via video, written materials, verbal instruction, demonstration from your health care team and so forth.  In addition, supplementary educational materials will be given to you at the time of your discharge.

Medications
Your doctor will prescribe medications to improve or manage your condition (such as antibiotics, pain medications, blood pressure medications and blood thinners).  You should take these medications exactly how your doctor prescribes.

Exercise/Activity
Activity and exercise are important for your well-being.  While you are in the hospital, your activity may be restricted.  As your condition improves, your activity level will be increased.  Most patients will be able to gradually resume activity as before.  You should follow your doctor’s activity recommendations.

What to do if your condition changes
Once you leave the hospital, you should contact your doctor’s office to make a follow-up appointment.   If at any time you have any questions or concerns or your condition gets worse, contact your physician immediately.  If you cannot reach your physician, you should go to the closest emergency department.   If you develop life- threatening symptoms such as breathing problems or chest pain, call 911 immediately.

Education at Discharge
You will receive additional information on your specific condition before you are discharged.  If you have any questions concerning this information, please ask your doctor or nurse before you are discharged.