Frequently Asked Questions
As we carry out our Mission and Vision, we are constantly striving to provide the highest quality of service for you - the patient. Our dedicated team of health care professionals is committed to making your hospital stay as comfortable as possible.
Inpatient Services
Your Room
Your room includes a bedside stand, for your belongings such as toiletries, an over bed table and a nurse call button which rings at the nurses' station. Your bed has an electrical control enabling you to raise or lower the foot or head for comfort. There is an emergency button in your bathroom should you require assistance.
Please feel free to contact our staff for any special requests such as reading material, newspaper, magazine, etc. that you may desire.
Television
The hospital offers cable television. There is no charge for this service. For your safety and in accordance with government regulations, no personal TV sets, radios, cell phones, or CB radios may be used in the hospital. Only battery operated radios are permitted.
Food and Nutrition Services
The Nutrition Services Department provides you with nutritious meals, as diet is important in your recovery. Your physician has prescribed the diet best suited for your recovery. For your convenience, a daily menu is delivered and collected by our staff. Certain food items may be excluded from the menu you receive in accordance with the restrictions of your diet.
A registered dietician is available to answer any questions you may have regarding your food or diet. If you encounter any problem with your food or the services, please bring it to the attention of our staff, which will contact the Nutrition Services Department.
Interpreters
Assistance to overcome language barriers is available. Check with your nurse for assistance.
Nursing Care
A professional team of clinical specialists, registered nurses and nursing assistants provides patient-focused care around the clock throughout your hospital stay. Tomah Memorial provides a multidisciplinary approach to direct patient care based on your physician's orders and is tailored to your individual needs. The nursing staff collaborates with you and your family as well as other health care professionals on issues related to your health and wellbeing.
Patient Education
Please place any educational materials you may receive in the Patient Education Folder provided for reference and safekeeping. Please ask the nurse caring for you if you have any questions about your care or would like additional educational materials.
Concerns During Your Hospitalization
At Tomah Memorial Hospital your satisfaction with all care provided is important to us. Should you or your family members experience concerns about the care you are receiving, you may contact the Quality/Compliance Coordinator and discuss any issues that did not meet your expectations. You may call the Quality/Compliance Coordinator during your hospitalization or after you are discharged. We encourage you to voice your opinion regarding the care you have received, and we welcome your comments.
Outpatient Services
Emergency Room
Tomah Memorial Hospital has emergency room services available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Urgent Care
Urgent Care Services are available 7 days a week, from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm daily.
Registration
When you walk through our door, our Hospital Admissions Department is available to assist you. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Please bring your insurance identification cards, any necessary insurance forms, photo identification, a military identification, social security card, and any other pertinent information.
Interpreters
Assistance to overcome language barriers is available. Check with your nurse for assistance.
Concerns About Your Services
At Tomah Memorial Hospital your satisfaction with all care provided is important to us. Should you or your family members experience concerns about any aspect of the care you received, you may contact the Quality/Compliance Coordinator to discuss any issues that did not meet your expectations. We encourage you to voice your opinion regarding the care you have received, and we welcome your comments.
Safety and Security
Confidentiality
Tomah Memorial Hospital respects each individual's right to confidentiality in communications and records concerning their care, treatment or services provided. Each employee, member of staff, volunteer, independent contractor, or vendor assumes responsibility to maintain confidentiality and access is based on the need to know basis. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal/state regulations to protect your confidentiality.
Smoking Policy
Tomah Memorial Hospital is a smoke free facility. As a health care institution, Tomah Memorial Hospital recognizes the hazards of smoking and enforces a "no smoking policy" throughout the institution. Patients, visitors, physicians, staff and volunteers are not permitted to smoke on the indoor premises under any circumstances. For your health and the health of others, smoking is only permitted outside of the hospital in the designated smoking area. Please speak to your physician in regard to alternative measures.
Medication
Please give your nurse a list of any medications you are taking, including dosage and times. Your nurse will review these with your physician who will make a decision on which medications you should continue to take during your hospitalization. Your nurse will bring your medication to you as ordered by your physician. All medications you may have brought with you, including aspirin, should be returned home as they can interfere or interact with tests or medicines ordered for your treatment.
For your safety and protection, only medicines approved by your physician and supplied by our Pharmacy will be given to you during your stay. Your nurse will ask you questions concerning your past responses to medications and any allergies you may have. You may be asked to wear an allergy bracelet, which alerts all care givers to your allergies.
Consent Forms
You may be asked to sign consent forms for certain types of treatment, tests and/or procedures. These tests or procedures will have been explained by your physician and/or staff. If you do not understand the procedure or test you are asked to consent to, tell your nurse, and your physician will be notified. It is important for you to understand the risks, benefits and alternatives available to you whenever you are undergoing anything other than a minor test; (such as having a chest x-ray) or treatment; (such as having the nurse administer intravenous fluids).
Your Personal Belongings
As we cannot accept responsibility for valuables left in your room, we strongly encourage you to give extra money, medications, credit cards, wallets, jewelry, etc. to a family member or close friend to take home. Or as an alternative, you can ask your nurse to put your valuables in the hospital safe.
Eyeglasses, Dentures, Hearing Aids
Eyeglasses, dentures and hearing aids are an important part of your life if you require them in your daily living activities. These items require special care. Tell your nurse that you use these, and you will be provided with a special container for their safety. Take care not to leave any of these items on your meal tray or lying on your bed, as they may be inadvertently disposed of or lost.
Visitor Information
Visiting Policy
Family and friends brighten your day and can help speed your recovery. During your hospitalization at Tomah Memorial Hospital, our goal is to provide an environment that promotes healing and provides a positive experience for you and your visitors. In order to accommodate the varied needs of our patients, the following guidelines should be explained to our visitors upon their arrival:
- Visiting hours are from the hours of 11:00 a. m. to 9 p.m. daily, with the exception of those patients located in the Special Care Unit. Special visiting hours are maintained on these units;
- Tomah Memorial Hospital is a smoke free hospital. Smoking is not permitted inside the hospital or patient rooms. There is a specified smoking area outside on the hospital grounds for those individuals who desire to smoke;
- For the rest and welfare of all of our patients, the television must be kept at a low volume. If you are visiting a patient who is sharing a room with another patient, the television may be requested to be turned off to allow for sleep. Nursing personnel may request that televisions be turned off at 10 p.m.;
- We encourage family visits, however, small children should be held by hand for their safety. To prevent transmission of germs, children should never be allowed to sit or lie down on the floor;
- We understand that some of our patients have special likes and dislikes regarding food. Please feel free to express your food preferences to the staff;
- Medications should be given to the patient by the nurse or physician only. Special circumstances will require a physician's order;
- We strive to provide all patients and visitors with a clean and pleasing environment. To allow our Environmental Services department to keep the patient room as sanitary as possible, visitors may be requested to leave the room so that it can be cleaned. We realize this may be an inconvenience, however, we suggest that visitors enjoy our cafeteria or a tour of our grounds during this time. We also have a beautiful lakeside waiting room available to patients and their families at the end of the south hall;
- To benefit all patients, visitors and staff, all visitors are responsible to conduct themselves in a polite and courteous manner. Any visitors who exhibit threatening behavior, or use of abusive or profane language, will be requested to leave the facility;
- Some families may have special circumstances that do not follow our visiting hours policy. Special needs are considered a priority. Please tell the nursing team leader, or unit manager of your requests, and every effort will be made to meet any special needs that arise.
Cafeteria Hours
Visitors are welcome to relax in our dining room, located on the ground floor of the Hospital. Hot food is served from 11:15 am - 1:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Various food and drink vending machines are available 24 hours a day. Coffee is available in the cafeteria.
Vending Machines
Vending machines are located just outside of the hospital cafeteria.
Telephone Service
To call outside the hospital from your bedside telephone, dial 81, wait for the dial tone and then dial the number you wish to call. There is no charge for local phone calls. When dialing outside the local area, dial 81; and then 0 to obtain an outside operator who will assist you. The outside operator will ask you how you wish to be billed for the call. Charges may be billed to your home phone or to your telephone credit card. You may also make collect calls.
A telephone for communication impaired (i.e., hearing and speech) patients and visitors are also available. Contact your nurse for this service.
Due to potential interference with medical equipment, the use of cellular telephones is prohibited throughout the hospital.
Gift Shop
The Tomah Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop is located just off the main lobby. The gift shop offers an assortment of toiletries, cards, gift items, and handmade specialties. The gift shop is open from 1 pm to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday with variable hours on Saturday and Sunday.
Lost and Found
Lost and found items are turned in to the Environmental Services Department and retained for 30 days. The department is located on the ground floor of the hospital.
