Your Satisfaction is Our Goal
At Lake Health we are serious about patient satisfaction. If you have a comment, question, or concern, we want to hear it--and resolve it. You can contact us by clicking on the "contact" icon on the home page of this Web site. Or you can call 1-877-953-6265 with your comment or concern. If you have a concern about patient safety or quality of care at Lake Health, and you're not satisfied with how we resolved your concern, you can register that concern with The Joint Commission by logging onto www.jointcommission.org and clicking on "Report a Complaint" or you can call 1-800-994-6610.
What to Bring to the Hospital
When you come to any Lake Health facility for a surgery, procedure, or diagnostic test (CT scan, MRI, cardiac catheterization, etc.), please bring the following:
- A list of prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements--such as aspirin, vitamin E, Claritin, Pepcid, calcium, or iron--that you take. Your list should include the name of the medication, vitamin, or supplement; the dosage; how often you take it; and the reason you take it. Don't forget to include vitamins and supplements because they can interact with prescription medications and influence diagnostic tests, hindering proper care.
- The name of your primary care physician if you have one.
- Any allergies you have, whether to medications or environmental factors.
- Your insurance information.
- Whether you have an advanced directive or living will.
- The dates of flu or pneumonia vaccines.
Personal Items
Although Lake Health takes great care with your belongings, we are not responsible for lost or missing items. We strongly recommend that you do not bring items with significant sentimental or monetary value to the hospital. Eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dentures are among the most frequently lost items, so please keep track of these items if you bring them to the hospital. We provide protective containers that you can label with your name; please use these containers and DO NOT wrap eyeglasses, hearing aids, or dentures in tissues or place them on your food tray or under your pillow.
If you bring a personal item, we sugest you ask us to hold it for you in a safe within the Security Office. We will give you a receipt for all items, which you must present to withdraw the items.
For the Hearing Impaired
A telecommunications device is available to help hearing-impaired patients or patients who want to communicate with a hearing-impaired visitor. Arrangements can also be made to have a person who uses sign language help a hearing-impaired patient.
Smoking Policy
To help protect the health of our team members, patients, and visitors, we do not permit smoking within any Lake Health facility. Your physician can order patches or medication to help you through your hospitalization without cigarettes. If you would like to stop smoking, we offer smoking cessation classes; for more information, click on the calendar or call the Best of Health Line at 1-800-454-9800.
Television
We provide color TV sets for every bed; there is no charge for this service. Please be considerate of other patients by playing TV sets softly and by turning off your set at bedtime. Headphones are available upon request. (TVs are not provided in the Center for Geriatric Psychiatry.)
Telephones
We provide telephones in each room. You can receive calls between 6 am and 11:30 pm. You can make local calls at any time by dialing 9 for an outside line. Phones are not provided in the Center for Geriatric Psychiatry and the Intensive Care Units (ICU), although they are available upon request in the ICUs. You can make a long-distance call at any time by dialing 9-0 and the number. You cannot charge long-distance calls to your room. You can charge them to a credit card or to your home number.
Your Meals
To serve you better, we provide an innovative meal preparation and delivery system called At Your Request. The basic premise behind At Your Request is that you can order what you want, when you want it. You may order your meals to be delivered anytime between 7 am and 6:30 pm, 7 days a week. Most people enjoy breakfast between 7 am and 10 am; lunch, between 11 am and 1:30 pm; and dinner, between 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm. When you're settled in your room, you will receive a menu and instructions for ordering your meals. Feel free to order a snack for later in the evening.
Newspapers
Newspapers are available free of charge on each unit.
We Welcome Service Animals
In public areas of all Lake Health facilities we welcome guide dogs, signal dogs, or other animals trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. Patients who are admitted cannot bring animals into certain areas, such as the operating room, ICU, labor and delivery, and other such areas. If you have questions, call 440-354-2400 or 440-953-9600 and ask to speak with the nursing supervisor. Patients or visitors with service animals assume responsibility for the care, feeding, and sanitary needs of the animal.
Pet Therapy
Lake Health provides a pet therapy program, where trained dogs visit patients during certain hours. This is designed to lift patients' spirits. If you would ike a visit from a pet therapy dog, please notify your caregiver. Likewise, if you prefer not to receive a visit from a therapy dog, please let us know.
Discharge Time
Most patients will be discharged by 11 am, although tests or test results could extend your stay. Usually, patients in the Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation Unit at West Medical Center will be discharged by 9 am. Please make arrangements with a family member or friend to drive you home. If the person taking you home does not arrive by the time you're discharged, you may wait in our discharge lounge.
Billing Information
Lake Health will submit bills to your insurance company and do everything possible to expedite your claim. You should familiarize yourself with the terms of your health insurance coverage. If you don't have insurance, a representative from the Patient Accounting Department will discuss financial arrangements with you.
For questions about your bill, call the Patient Accounting Department at 440-953-6012 or 440-354-1640. You can send payments to Lake Health, PO Box 714031, Columbus, OH 43271.
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