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VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York - VISN 2
For Your Safety
Valuables
For safekeeping, you are advised to keep your
valuables at home. The Medical Center is not
responsible for money or other valuables that
you bring and store in your room. We ask that
you keep no more than $10 cash on hand. Any
additional money should be deposited with the
Agent Cashier. Coupon booklets and phone
cards may be purchased through the Retail
Store. Domiciliary patients are advised to lock
valuables in their locker.
Agent Cashier
The Agent Cashier helps veterans with check cashing, travel funds, and co-payments.
If you require these services, please ask your health care team for the agent cashier locations and operating hours. Families are encouraged to obtain coupon books at the Retail Store for patient use.
Prohibited Items
Patients may not have alcoholic beverages, narcotics,
illegal drugs, firearms, ammunition, knives, other
weapons, lighter fluid, non-safety matches, straight
edge razors, or any medications from home. Firearms
and cellular telephones, TVs, radios, and personal
computers are not permitted in the Medical Center.
Smoking Policy
The Medical Center is a smoke-free facility.
Staff, visitors, volunteers and patients may not
smoke anywhere indoors or within any exits or
entranceways. Smoking is permitted in designated
smoking shelters. Smokers must remain at least
20 feet from entrances. In the hospital, the smoking
shelter is located in front of the west end of
the hospital near the ambulance entrance. In the
domiciliary, smoking shelters are located off of the
connecting corridor between section 1 and the
Recreation Building and off the corridor between
the Domiciliary Canteen and the section 3 pavilion.
Section 2 Community Living Center patients may smoke in
designated shelters on the second and third floor
porches. Please be considerate of non-smokers.
Fire/Disaster Drill
The Medical Center has a fire and disaster plan for the
protection of both patients and staff. If you discover
a fire, tell a staff member right away. If you are on a
ward that needs to be evacuated, follow the instructions
from the staff. Exit signs show the locations of
emergency exits. Fire alarms are near each exit.
Restraints
The Medical Center strives for a restraint-free
environment. Occasionally, restraints are necessary.
The least restrictive method will be used to ensure
that the patient's needs, dignity and rights are
maintained. If you have further questions, contact
your health care team.
Zero Tolerance for Violence
To maintain a safe environment for patients, staff
and visitors, we need your help. The Medical Center
has a "zero tolerance" for violence. Behavior that is
disruptive, threatening or violent will not be tolerated
and should be reported to staff or VA police
immediately. Once identified, corrective action will
be implemented (as necessary) to insure the safety
of all parties. VA police and other specially trained
staff provide training in proper response to workplace
violence incidents, as well as offering critical
incident stress de-briefing services to anyone
involved in a violent incident.
Cameras, Video Equipment, Tape Recorders and Cellular Phones
For reasons of patient privacy, cameras, video
equipment, tape recorders and cellular phones are
generally not allowed in the Medical Center. If your
family or friends wish to bring in a camera, video
camera or tape recorder, they must make arrangements
with the nurse manager or domiciliary staff.
Cellular phones are prohibited as they affect sensitive
medical equipment.
VA Police
VA Police are on duty 24 hours a day for your care
and protection. Contact the VA police if the need
arises, or if your family members or friends need to
be escorted to their car. The Police Office is located
on the first floor of building 44. Staff can also help
you contact the police at extension 41291.
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| Reviewed/Updated Date: December 28, 2006 |
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