In-Patient Admissions Info

At Wayne Memorial Hospital, we realize no one ever wants to be sick or in the hospital. So we endeavor to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible – every step of the way from admission to discharge.

We think knowing what to expect along the way might help you or one of your loved ones have a more comfortable stay. Here is some general information.

HOSPITAL ADMISSION
Upon admission, you will be asked to show insurance cards, including Medicare and Medicaid, if applicable. A copy of your health insurance policy will also be requested if you have an individual plan. This process help determine if your hospital costs will be covered or if additional financial arrangements should be made. During an "interview" you will be assigned to a room. Although your room request will be considered, room selections are based on availability and your specific medical needs.

WHAT TO BRING
We ask that you keep only a few personal items such as toiletries, a bathrobe, slippers and sleepwear in your room. The hospital does not assume responsibility for valuables including medications, so these should be sent home as soon as possible. If that is not immediately possible, valuables may be kept temporarily in the hospital safe until someone can take them home for you.

YOUR ROOM
Patient rooms have color cable television sets and telephones. Mail, flowers and gifts are delivered daily, except Sunday. Our staff will gladly show you how to use the call system for the nurses station.

VISITING HOURS
Wayne Memorial Hospital welcomes visitors. Visitors should stop by the main lobby for directions and room numbers. We recommend that only three visitors be in a patient’s room at a time. Visiting hours are 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for most patients. However, visitation of ICU patient is limited to 30-minute visits every three hours from 9:15 a.m. to 9:15 p.m.

TELEPHONES
Except for special care units, bedside phones are in all patient rooms. A patient’s room number corresponds to the phone number. To reach a patient room, dial 919-580-+1+room number to reach the patient directly. Patients may call out from their room 24 hours a day. However, incoming calls are restricted in the evening and early morning times. Incoming calls to patient rooms received from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. are switched to the hospital operator. Emergency calls are forwarded to the nurses’ station during these hours. Local calls are free. Long-distance calls may not be charged to your room. These calls must be collect, charged to a home phone number or charged to a credit card. (Long-distance calling cards may be purchased from The Sunshine Corner Gift Shop on the first floor near the visitor entrance.)

MEALS
Our Food and Nutrition Services Department serves a nutritionally complete "As You Please" menu. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner will be delivered to your room. We will gladly try to accommodate your meal preferences – in accordance with any dietary restrictions suggested by your doctor or dietician. Visitors may also order meals that can be served along with the patient’s meal. Guest meals must be paid for at the time of delivery. Ask your nurse for more details.

CAFETERIA
Our cafeteria offers an array of choices including hot entrees, salad bar, sandwich bar, soup, grill items, prepackaged salads, desserts, pizza, frozen yogurt, bottled water and soda, fountain drinks, coffee, iced tea, and a variety of snack items. (Heart-healthy items are clearly marked with a heart symbol and most items include nutritional information.) A few days a week we have special "display cooking" in which certain entrees are prepared to taste while you wait. There is something for everyone. The cafeteria is on the ground floor of the main tower and is open at the following times:

Breakfast: 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Lunch: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Dinner: 4:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Snack machines are available 24 hours a day and are located on the ground floor, next to the visitor elevators.

HOW TO IDENTIFY OUR STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND DOCTORS
Staff, volunteers and doctors have blue identification badges with their photo, name, department and/or title. Our nursery staff is identified with an additional badge that is pink with the employee’s photo. Hospital vendors, medical residents, patient sitters and medical students have purple badges.

GIFT SHOP
The Sunshine Corner Gift Shop, located on the first floor of the Main Tower, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

SMOKING
Because of the harmful effects associated with smoking and safety issues, WMH provides a smoke-free environment — smoking is prohibited inside the hospital. Your visitors may smoke in the designated smoking area outside the Main Lobby entrance away from the door.

ADVANCE DIRECTIVE
An Advance Directive is a set of directions that indicates the health care you want if you ever lose the ability to make decisions for yourself. North Carolina has three ways for you to make a formal advance directive. One way is called a "living will"; another is a "health care power of attorney"; and another is "advance instruction for mental health treatment."

If you have any of these documents already, you should present a copy during the admission process. If you do not have an Advance Directive and wish to formulate one, please let us know. Wayne Memorial Hospital has a living will form, a health care power of attorney form, and an advance instruction for mental health treatment form that you can use. These forms meet all of the rules for a formal advance directive. Using the appropriate form is the best way to make sure that your wishes are carried out.

Upon admission you will be given a brochure that explains Advance Directives in more detail. However, if you would like more information, please contact Debbie Phillips, RN, at 919 731-6334, or review this informative web site. www.caringinfo.org, for some excellent reference materials.

PATIENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We strive to care for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of our patients with respect and dignity. Upon admission you will be given a brochure that explains an Patient Rights and Responsibilities in more detail. However, if you would like more information, please contact Patient Services Administration at 919 731-6149.