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VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York - VISN 2
Admission to the Medical Center
Your Stay in the Medical Center
If you have questions or concerns any time during
your stay at the Medical Center, please ask a member
of your health care team. Your health care team
consists of your physician/provider, nurse, social
worker, dietitian, pharmacist and ward clerk. Health
care teams also have other health professionals
depending on the setting. These may include addiction
therapists, vocational rehabilitation specialists,
recreation therapists and others. They can help you
find just the right person to address your needs.
A co-payment is charged to Priority Groups 7 and 8
who are receiving inpatient and/or outpatient care
and/or prescriptions. The co-payment is changed
each year on January 1st. For current information
on co-payment charges and priority groups, you
may contact the Veterans Service Center on the 1st
floor or your Health Benefits Handbook.
Insurance
If you currently have a living will or health care
proxy, please tell the nurse. These documents will
be added to your medical record to indicate your
medical wishes.
Veterans Service Center
A co-payment is charged to Priority Groups 7 and 8
who are receiving inpatient and/or outpatient care
and/or prescriptions. The co-payment is changed
each year on January 1st. For current information
on co-payment charges and priority groups, you
may contact the Veterans Service Center on the 1st
floor or your Health Benefits Handbook.
Insurance
The VA is required by law to recover the costs of
providing medical treatment for non-service connected
conditions from the veterans' own individual
health insurance company. We will apply the
payment from your insurance company to your
co-payment first. You will be responsible for the
remainder of the co-payment your insurance
company does not pay.
Medications
Do not bring medications from home. Please tell
the staff about all the medications you are taking. All
medications brought to the Medical Center will be
sent home with a family member or mailed to your
home. These medications will not be returned to you
directly. Your doctor will order medications to be
used during your hospital stay and at your discharge.
Please note, if you are participating in a research
project and are on special research medication, bring
them to the hospital and inform the health care team.
Pain Management
We are committed to helping you get the best pain
relief. Only you can describe your pain. You will be
asked to rate the amount of pain you have on a "0 to
10" scale. Zero means no pain and ten describes the
worst pain you could imagine having.
Blood Donor Program (Autologous)
If you have donated your own blood with the
American Red Cross for upcoming surgery or if
you have any questions, please have your health
care team contact the VA blood bank. If you are
having surgery in the future, your doctor will make
the appropriate determination if blood transfusions
are needed.
Clothing
All medical and surgical patients are expected to
wear VA provided pajamas, robes and slippers or
shoes. Patients in the Community Living Center
and Psychiatry Unit are permitted and encouraged
to wear their personal clothing unless otherwise
indicated. You should arrange to have the following
personal items with you when you check in:
toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving kit, deodorant, and
toiletries.
Mail
Your mail will be delivered to you on your ward. All
mail received after you have been discharged will be
forwarded to your home address. It is important to
ensure that we have your current address. Mail sent
to you while a patient should be addressed as follows:
(Your Full Name and Ward)
VA Medical Center
113 Holland Avenue
Albany, New York 12208
Telephones
Bedside telephones are provided for your use. The
ward staff is available if you need guidance. No
bedside phones are available in the Psychiatry
Units. Pay phones are located by the passenger
elevators on each floor and in the main lobby.
Identification (ID) Wrist Bands
When you are admitted, you will be given an identification
band. Please wear this wristband at all
times. Lost ID wristbands should be reported to the
ward clerk or a nurse immediately.
Off Ward Notification
As a reminder, please tell a member of the health
care team before you leave the ward and sign out in
the appropriate area.
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| Reviewed/Updated Date: December 28, 2006 |
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