During Your Stay

Admission and Check-In Procedures
Inpatient
When you arrive at East Valley Hospital Medical Center, please check in at the Admissions Office located directly in front of the hospital's main entry.
Hours: The hospital is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Admission office is open 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Once the admitting process is completed, a hospital representative will escort you to your room. When you reach your room, a registered nurse will meet with you to discuss your plan of care. The nursing staff is your resource for answers to any questions that may arise during your stay.

Bioethics Committee
The hospital has a Bioethics Committee that can help if any questions arise about your treatment wishes. You can access the Bioethics Committee by contacting a social worker, or hospital Administration. In the evenings, nights, and weekends, ask the Operator to page the Nursing Supervisor.

Cafeteria
The hospital cafeteria eating area and vendor machine are available for patients and visitors during 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. and we serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

There are also snack and beverage machine in the Emergency Department waiting room as well.

Chaplain
A Chaplain is available or arrangements can also be made to provide you with a religious leader from your own denomination. Upon request, the chaplain will contact your own minister or religious leader. If you have any questions or want to request services, call the Utilization Management Department. In the evenings, nights and on weekends, ask your registered nurse or ask the Operator to page the Nursing Supervisor.

Deliveries
Patient mail is delivered to your nursing unit. Flowers will be delivered to your room as received from florists. Flowers are not allowed in the Intensive Care Unit.

Financial Services
A Financial Counselor is available in the Admissions office to help you with your account. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will need to provide insurance and other financial information when you are admitted as a patient. Bring your insurance card with you and any deposit previously discussed with the Financial Counselor. East Valley Hospital Medical Center accepts Medicare, Medi-Cal, and many other types of insurance. We have contracts with many Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO's), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO's) and employer insurance groups. (Please note: medical authorization is required on most of these contracts prior to treatment.)

Gift Shop
The Auxiliary Gift Shop is located off the main lobby and is open Monday through Friday. The Gift Shop has gifts for all your giving needs: new baby, flowers, religious gifts, greeting cards, birthdays, confirmations, anniversaries, thank you's, get well soon, snacks, personal items, and more.

Interpreter Services
Interpreters are available in the hospital. Additionally, through the use of Language Line Interpretation Services, interpreters are available in more than 25 languages including Sign Language. Special equipment is available for our deaf patients. If you need an interpreter, ask your care giver for assistance.
Major signage in the hospital is in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.

Meals
Menus are delivered daily to select meals for the following day. Special diets ordered by your physician may limit some of your choices.
Nourishment is available 24 hours a day. A dietitian is available to set up a snack plan according to your diet. Family and friends may dine with you for an extra charge.

Medications
Please leave all medications at home. Make sure and tell your doctors and nurses what medications you are taking. We need to know what over-the-counter medications you are taking, in addition to those drugs prescribed by your physician.

Resolution of Care Issues
East Valley Hospital Medical Center is committed to providing the best care possible and to assuring complete satisfaction with your stay. Should you have any issues about your stay, there are several ways to receive a speedy response to your concerns.

Smoking Policy
East Valley Hospital Medical Center is a non-smoking facility. Smoking is not allowed in patient rooms, hallways, lobby areas or anywhere inside the hospital. Smoking is also not allowed on the patio adjacent to the patient-care areas. Designated smoking areas are located outside the hospital.

Support After You Leave the Hospital
Social workers and specialized nurses assist patients and families with counseling, discharge planning and resource referrals. Working collaboratively with physicians, nurses and other members of your health care team, the social workers and discharge planners coordinate and facilitate assisted living or nursing home placement, home health, medical equipment and linkages to public services and community resources.

Telephone
To receive calls, family and friends may reach you by calling (626) 852-5000 and requesting your room number. For direct calls to your room, ask your caregiver for the four-digit extension assigned to your phone. To request to have calls held, dial the operator at "O." Note: No calls are put through to patient rooms after 9 p.m.
When making calls, please note the following: For calls inside the hospital: Pick up the phone and dial the four-digit extension desired.
For calls outside of the hospital: For local calls, pick up the phone, dial "9." After the dial tone, dial the seven-digit number. For calls outside the (626) area code, pick up the phone and dial "9" and then "0" to reach the operator who will take your billing information (i.e. calling card, credit card or bill to another number).
Cellular phones: Use of cellular phones interferes with vital hospital equipment. If you want to use a cellular phone, please step outside of the hospital.
TDD/TTY: For hearing-impared patients, your registered nurse will provide the necessary telephone equipment.
Pay Phones: Located in the front lobby and ER waiting room.

Valuables
We recommend that you leave your jewelry, money and other important personal belongings at home. For assistance in securing your valuables or inquiring about lost or found items, ask a member of your nursing care team. On admission, your nurse will record your personal belongings.

Visitor Information
General visiting hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Exceptions are made to meet the needs of patients and families. Visiting hours in some departments may vary, so please varify your unit's schedule. If a patient is sharing a room, visitors should restrict themselves to no more than two people per patient at any one time. Patients who require restrictions for infection-control purposes will have signs on the doors of the hospital room.
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. All children are not allowed to wander in the hospital, and should stay within designated waiting areas.
Anyone wishing to visit a patient in the Senior Mental Health Unit must first call.

Waiting Areas
Special family and visitor waiting areas are designated for Maternity, Emergency Services and Critical Care.

Making Your Return Home a Safe and Easy One
We offer you the following tips to make your transition home a smooth one.
Before leaving the hospital - Know what medications you should take, how much you should take, and when you should take them.

Know when you need to see your physician next and whether you should schedule a follow-up visit. It is helpful to call ahead for an appointment while you are still in the hospital, and if you are unable to do so, call as soon as possible after you return home.
Know what activities you can do and which activities should be avoided.
When returning home: - Don't be afraid to nap and rest. The first few days out of the hospital are crucial in setting the tone for your continued recovery. Listen to your body and take things slow. If you are tiring quickly, know that it is okay to rest.
Ensure that a family member or friend will check in with you. The need for this will vary depending upon your illness or reason for hospitalization, and whether you live alone. Regardless, be sure someone will be telephoning you or stopping by for a visit.
Place a telephone and emergency telephone numbers by your bed or near other areas, like the kitchen or den, where you might spend a lot of time. In this way, your telephone and important numbers will be within easy reach should you have an emergency.
Be patient with yourself. Recovery may take longer than you anticipated. Ask your physician how you are doing.
Lastly, write down your questions. If you are having difficulty writing, ask a family member or a friend to help. Take those questions with you to your next doctor's appointment.