Your Stay at Strathfield Private Hospital
Accommodation
There are single and shared rooms, all with ensuites. Every effort
is made to accommodate you in the room of your choice. If your
preference is not available at the time of admission, we will
endeavour to meet your request as soon as possible.
Atm Facility
Is not available on-site, however conveniently located at Strathfield
Plaza, a 5 minute walk.
Call Button
Should you require assistance at anytime, alert the nursing staff
using the nurse call button located on the bedside handset.
The handset allows you to buzz for assistance. The light will
glow red when your call registers at the nurses’ station.
After attending to your needs the nurses will cancel the call.
The diagram below demonstrates this and other features of the
handset.
Catering
Our Catering Department prepares a variety of high quality, fresh meals. Culturally
appropriate menus are available upon request. Menus will be provided each morning
from which you may select meals according to your taste and dietary requirements.
A vegetarian option is available at each meal.
Coffee
Shop / Lounge Facilities
The Café is located on the Ground Floor of the Hospital
.The Cafe offers delicious hot and cold beverages and a variety
of gourmet sandwiches. Open 5 days a week, between 8am and 4pm
Monday to Fridays.
Beverage bars with coffee making facilities are also available
in the ward areas for your convenience.
Compliments / Complaints
We welcome compliments and feedback relating to your stay with
us and we encourage all patients to complete the feedback form
provided to all patients on admission (or alternatively, are
available in all work areas). Completing this form enables
us to evaluate and improve the services provided to our patients
and visitors. Additional forms and suggestion boxes are located
throughout the Hospital.
These questionnaires can be filled out anonymously, however,
if you wish to write a specific and/or signed letter, your points
will be acknowledged and dealt with appropriately.
Regular patient satisfaction surveys are conducted independently
of the Hospital by Press Ganey Associates. If you are surveyed,
your inclusion in these surveys is voluntary. We would appreciate
your assistance if you are asked to participate. If you are concerned
about your care or the Hospital’s services please contact
the Nursing Unit Manager on the ward, the Director of Clinical
Services or the Chief Executive Officer.
Complaints can be received by writing a letter, by telephone,
by email, in person or through our survey system.
Department Of Veteran’s Affairs
As a Department of Veteran’s Affairs Veteran Partnering
hospital you have immediate access to our care without the need
for prior approval (prior approval is required in some circumstances
e.g. cosmetic surgery, respite care, admissions to registered
psychiatric beds).
Emergency Procedures
The Hospital has highly developed safety and emergency procedures
in which each staff member has a key role. In the unlikely
event of an emergency, remain in/by your bed until a staff
member arrives to assist you.
Falls Prevention In Hospital
In Australian hospitals, approximately 38 percent of patient
incidents involve a fall (source: Falls Prevention brochure
NSW Health). In order to maintain the safety of patients while
in hospital, Strathfield Private Hospital uses a number of
falls prevention strategies. Patients may become more susceptible
to falling during their stay in hospital for a range of reasons,
including the unfamiliar surroundings, change of medication
and surgery. During your admission, you may undergo a falls
risk assessment to determine if you are at risk of falling
and what may need to be done to decrease this risk.
Please be sure to pack appropriate footwear when coming to hospital;
patients are encouraged to wear closed, non-slip slippers. If
you are at risk of falling please ask for nursing assistance
when transferring or mobilizing around the room. We encourage
families and friends to participate in the falls prevention process
to ensure our patients’ safety. The Hospital’s Falls
Prevention Information brochure is available in each ward.
Flowers And Mail
Flowers and mail are delivered directly to your room. If you
have mail to post please contact the ward clerk and this will
be arranged for you. Stamps may be purchased from Reception.
Hairdresser
An onsite hairdressing service is available for patients. Please
advise the ward clerk who will organise an appointment for
you.
Identification of Staff
All staff wear name badges as a means of identification and internal
security. The badge shows the staff member’s name and
position. If you cannot see a staff member’s identification
badge you may ask them to show you.
Infection Control
Hand washing, high standards of housekeeping, the use of sterile
techniques and equipment are essential in order to ensure your
speedy recovery and to reduce the risk of infection. Patients
play a vital role in reducing the risk of infection to themselves
and other patients.
Here are a few very simple guidelines.
- Personal hygiene is very important.
- Always wash your hands when using the toilet facilities
or when leaving your room.
- Mention to nursing staff any concerns you may have
regarding hygiene of the ward or bathrooms.
- Please avoid sitting on the beds of other patients.
Nursing staff are happy to provide you with a chair if required.
If you have any questions about infection control, the nursing
staff will happily assist you. The Hospital’s Infection
Control Coordinator is also available to answer any of your queries.
Your co-operation in helping us to maintain a high standard
of infection control is appreciated.
Interpreter Service
If the service of an interpreter is required, contact the Hospital
prior to admission so that the necessary arrangements can be
made.
Laundry (Personal)
The hospital does not provide a personal laundry service. Please
make your own arrangements with the help of family or friends.
If this is not possible, ask your nurse about alternatives.
Lost Property
Property remains the responsibility of patients. While every
attempt is taken to safeguard property it is recommended that
patients do not keep valuables with them in hospital.
Personal belongings inadvertently left after discharge will be
forwarded to the lost property box in our Administration section.
Staff will endeavour to label any item with your name and you
will be contacted to collect the items.
Mail Service
Stamps can be purchased through Reception. If you wish to send
a letter while you are in hospital please give it to the Ward
Clerk. This will be posted daily. Your personal mail will be
delivered to your bedside daily by the Ward Clerk.
Medical Staff
The doctor who admits you is responsible for your medical care
while you are in Strathfield Private Hospital. Any questions
that you have regarding your treatment should be directed to
him/her. All wards are covered 24 hours a day with experienced
medical officers.
Newspapers
Newspapers are available for sale from the Café.
Patient Record
A patient record will be kept detailing your illness and treatment.
This is confidential and access is limited only to the healthcare
professionals directly involved in your treatment. Your patient
record will remain in the property of the Hospital. The contents
of your patient record will be divulged only with your written
consent or where required by the law. You may request to review
your patient record at any time. The Hospital has up to 14
days to respond to your request. Administration fees do apply.
Please contact the Director of Clinical Services to organise
this.
Pharmacy
Strathfield Private Hospital is serviced by an external Pharmacy,
a division of the Australian Pharmaceutical Health Care Systems
Group. It delivers a comprehensive range of services to all
patients
A team of highly-trained and experienced pharmacists and technicians
dispense medications and provide clinical advice under your doctor’s
direction. Pharmacists review medications regularly to identify,
resolve and prevent medication related problems and optimise
drug treatment. Medication information and counselling are provided
to patients with multiple medications or complex conditions who
would benefit from this service.
To ensure that additional charges are not applied, patients
are requested bring their prescriptions with them at their time
of admission. This will ensure that their supply of medication
is not interrupted and additional charges are not levied. This
is especially important for authority items, which have controls
placed on them. Your Prescription Record Form (PBS card) should
also be brought to hospital if you are close to reaching your
Safety Net so that we can add appropriate items dispensed during
your stay in hospital. If you are taking a number of medications
please bring a current medication list from your GP to assist
the admission process and ensure your medication treatment is
continued. This should include Prescription medicines, “Over
the counter” medications, aspirin, vitamins, herbal or
alternative medicines. Charges for medications not covered by
hospital health fund agreements or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
will be sent to you as a separate account.
Privacy
All hospitals in the Ramsay Health Care Group comply with the
Commonwealth Privacy Act and all other state/territory legislative
requirements in relation to the management of personal information.
Our patients can feel safe in the knowledge that we safeguard
their personal health information ensuring that confidentiality
is respected and information is stored securely. If you have
any further enquiries in relation to our Privacy Policy or
our health information management practices please ask for
our Privacy Policy brochure.
Quality Improvement
The hospital utilises sophisticated levels of quality measure
and reviews to ensure all aspects of your care are of a high
standard. In cooperation with varies Universities, medical
researchers at Strathfield Private Hospital are engaged in
vital research designed to find causes, cures, better management
methods and improved medications and treatments of a range
of major conditions that affect the health of veterans and
the Australian community at large. This important work demonstrates
the Hospital’s ongoing commitment to quality improvement.
Please refer to the end of this booklet for more information.
Relatives staying overnight
Relatives may stay overnight with prior approval.
Rights And Responsibilities
As a patient in our Hospital, we encourage you to be informed
of your rights and responsibilities. Click
here to view the
Patient Charter.
Smoking
In accordance with the NSW Department of Health Policy, smoking
is not permitted in the Hospital. Strathfield Private Hospital
will be going completely smoke free and is currently implementing
a number of strategies to enable this significant change to
occur. It will be the Hospital’s policy that smoking
will be eliminated everywhere on or within the Hospital property
by January 2007. In the meantime, designated areas for smoking
are available outside the Hospital. (Staff will direct you
to these areas). It is recommended that you do not smoke before
and after your procedure.
Spiritual Needs
Your spiritual needs may be catered for by our pastoral care
visitors. Please advise your Nursing Unit Manager for appropriate
arrangements to be made.
Your own religious representative is welcome to visit you during
your hospital stay.
Surgery
We advise the following cannot be worn into the operating theatre:
- Nail polish (fingers or toes)
- Make up
- Hairpins
- Jewellery
- Contact lenses
Telephones
You can make and receive free local calls from the telephone
by your bed by dialling ‘0’ and then the number
you wish to phone. Mobile, STD and ISD telephone calls cannot
be made without the purchase of a telephone card, which can
be obtained from Reception
People may phone you directly by dialling 9745- XXXX (followed
by the extension number provided on each phone). Alternatively,
they may phone (02) 9745-7444 (Hospital Switchboard). Phone calls
will be put through to your bedside telephone between 7am and
9pm. If you do not want calls to be transferred through to you
please give only those friends and family you would like to speak
to your direct line. Please advise a staff member to notify Switchboard
not to transfer calls to you.
Please note that mobile telephones must be turned off while
in the Hospital as they interfere with medical equipment. Public
phones are available near the lifts on the Ground Floor.
Television
The Hospital provides a television set at your bedside at no
additional charge. Your nurse-call handset operates the television.
All the free-to-air channels are available and two radio stations.
The handset by your bed allows you to easily choose a radio
or television program. When either of the channel selector buttons
is pushed, the current channel is displayed on the television
screen. The socket on the right hand side of the handset is for
the use of an earphone for private listening. Earphones are available
from nursing staff upon request.
Valuables
Patients are strongly advised not to wear jewellery and to leave
other valuables at home. The Hospital will not accept liability
for loss of valuables or personal belongings. Bedside lockers
and a cupboard are provided for each patient to store toiletries
and personal belongings.
Violence/Agression
The Hospital’s staff and patients need to work and be cared
for in a safe environment; one that is free from violence and
aggression. Physical and non-physical violence towards staff
and/or others in the facility will not be tolerated.
Any such acts may lead to discharge, and may result in the police
being notified and legal action being taken.
Ward Organisation
The ward areas are under the supervision of the Nursing Unit
Managers during weekdays and an After Hours Supervisor on evening,
night and weekend shifts. Any problems that may occur during
your stay, should be raised with the Nursing Unit Manager.
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