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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, ask a member of
your health care team. Your health care team consists
of your licensed provider (physician, physician's
assistant or nurse practitioner), nurse, social worker,
dietitian, pharmacist and ward clerk. Health care
teams may include other health professionals depending
on the setting, such as addiction, vocational
rehabilitation, recreation and physical therapists.
Your health care team will help you find the health
care professional who can best address your needs.
Tell the nurse if you have a living will or health
care proxy. These documents will be added to your medical record.
Co-Payments
A VA co-payment is charged to veterans in certain
priority groups. A national co-payment amount is
calculated each year with the new amount taking
effect on January 1. Contact the Veterans Service
Center for current information about co-payment
charges and priority groups. Additional information
can be found in your Health Benefits Handbook.
Insurance
The VA is required to bill your private health insurance
company for medical treatment provided for
non-service connected conditions. Veterans will
have all payments received from their insurance
company applied to their VA co-payment first. They
will then be responsible for any VA co-payment
balance that may remain after their insurance company
has made its payments.
Medications
Please, do not bring medications from home.
Instead, make a list and tell the staff about all
medications and over the counter drugs that you are
taking. Medications brought to the Medical Center
will be sent home with your family. Otherwise, the
medications can not be returned to you. Your
doctor will order the medications you will need
during your hospital stay and upon your discharge.
Exception: If you are taking part in a research project
and are on special research medication, please bring
them to the hospital and tell your 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. Ten describes the
worst pain you could imagine having.\
Blood Donor Program—Providing Your Own Blood for Planned Surgery
If you are having (planned) surgery at one of the
VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York medical
centers, you may be able to donate your own blood
for the procedure. If you have questions or concerns
about blood donations, discuss them with your
health care team.
Mail
Mail will be delivered to you on your ward. All mail
received after you are discharged will be forwarded
to your home address. Please be sure that we have
your current address. Mail you wish to receive while
you are a patient should be addressed as follows:
Your Full Name
VA Medical Center
Ward or Section
Bath, New York 14810
Domiciliary patients will receive mail in their
sections. Mailboxes are available for each domiciliary
patient. There is a self-service postage stamp machine located in the hallway in front of the main dining hall in Bldg 24 and stamps may also be purchased through the Canteen Retail Store.
Clothing
All medical patients are expected to wear pajamas,
robe, and slippers or shoes. A robe is provided in
case you need to leave your room. Medical patients
are asked to keep one set of clothing and footwear
for use at discharge. Patients in the community living center
are encouraged to wear their personal clothing.
Domiciliary patients wear their own clothes and are
responsible for personal laundry needs. Washing
machines and dryers are available in each section.
Additionally, you should bring the following personal
items with you when you check in: toothbrush,
toothpaste, shaving kit, deodorant, toiletries, glasses,
dentures, and canes. We encourage you to label
your personal belongings.
Telephones
Please ask staff about the telephones in your area.
Most areas are serviced with pay phones. Outside
callers may call the switchboard operator and ask
for you by name and ward. You can call longdistance
by calling collect or using a calling card.
Identification (ID) Wrist Bands
Upon admission, you will be given an ID wristband.
Please wear your ID wristband at all times. Lost ID
wristbands must be reported to your health care
team. Domiciliary patients will be provided with a
photo ID upon admission to the domiciliary.
Off-Ward Notification
As a reminder, please tell a member of your health
care team before you leave the ward. Domiciliary
patients will need to carry their photo ID and
display it when requesting services or assistance.
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| Reviewed/Updated Date: December 28, 2006 |
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