Helpful Information for Patients & Visitors
The Hospital has private and semi-private rooms, which are assigned according to the patient’s medical needs and preference as far as possible. Every effort shall be made to satisfy your request.
Consent and Release Forms
Permits for treatment and / or surgical procedures must be signed by the patient or the patient’s next of kin or legal guardian.
Fire and Disaster Drills
The Hospital periodically conducts fire and safety drills to test the efficiency of the staff. Do not be alarmed by the sounding of the alarm system during these drills. The nurse will instruct you as to what action is necessary.
Financial Arrangements
Financial arrangements will be discussed with you or your family when you are admitted. If you have hospitalization insurance, you will be asked to present your identification card at the time of admission.
Hospital Charges
Daily room charges include 24 hour nursing care, bedside meal service, between meal nourishment, housekeeping, linens, gowns and pajamas if desired, processing of your insurance forms, telephones, television and maintenance of your medical records.
Not included in this charge are such items as x-ray and other diagnostic studies, operating room, oxygen, blood transfusions, anesthetics, drugs, respiratory, speech and physical therapy, laboratory tests, and physician fees. This list is not all inclusive of charges.
Leaving your hospital room
As a patient your plan of care is developed upon orders from your Physician for treatments, medications, and various examinations. it is necessary that these activities be scheduled within a specific time frame.
If you are ambulatory and wish to leave your room for any reason other than treatments or examinations you are requested to inform your nurse of your whereabouts before leaving the room in order that your treatment schedule not be interrupted.
Maternity Patients
The medical record of all obstetrical patients shall be on file in the O.B. Department for immediate access by the staff upon the patient’s admission to the maternity department.
Medications
Do not bring your home medications with you to the hospital unless specifically requested by your physician.
A list of your current medications which you are taking with name, dose, and frequency is helpful when the physician is planning your care.
Your physician wil order any medications which you are to receive while you are hospitalized. Your nurse will administer your medication according to the Doctor’s orders.
Pediatric Patients
Pediatric patients twelve years of age or under will be required to have a family member present at all times.
Personal Electronic Equipment
Do not bring personal electrical equipment such as hair dryers shavers or radios to the Hospital. Under unusual circumstances an exception may be made by checking with your nurse and the Hospital Safety Officer.
Questions about your bill
If you foresee any problem in settling your account or if you have any questions about your bill, please feel free to call the Patient Accounts Representative at extension 537 or 539 in the insurance office of the Hospital. After discharge you may call 865-213-8537 or 865-213-8539 for information.
Smoking
Sweetwater Hospital is a Smoke Free facility: smoking is permitted outside the hospital in designated smoking areas only.
Special Care Unit-ICU/CCU
Visitors are requested to obtain permission from the Nurse in charge before entering the Unit. Specific regulations are posted outside the area. All visitors are requested to observe the regulations out of concern for the patients.
Utilization Review
In response to Federal and state laws, Sweetwater Hospital has a Utilization Review Program to evaluate all patient needs for hospitalization where required for insurance purposes. The primary justification for hospital stay is based on the patient’s medical needs. If your Doctor, along with the Utilization Review Coordinator determines that your admission or continued stay cannot be justified, then your insurance coverage may not apply. Should this situation develop, you will be informed and given ample time for other arrangements to be made for your care. Medical information on each patient is maintained in the Health Information Management Department. Information contained in the records is divulged to no one without written consent of the patient and attending physician except when required by law.
Patients Hours: Posted visitation hours apply to all others with the exception of the designated support person.
9:30 – 10:00am
1:00 – 1:30am
5:00 – 5:30am
9:00 – 9:30pm
ICU VISITATION:
One support person may be present at all times, at the patient’s request, unless their presence infringes on the rights of others or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated (i.e. patient suspected or confirmed of COVID-19). Exceptions to the posted Visitation Guidelines are at the discretion of the nursing staff and by physician order.
- Posted visitation hours:
- 9:30 – 10:00am
- 1:00 – 1:30am
- 5:00 – 5:30am
- 9:00 – 9:30pm
SUPPORT PERSON:
- Support persons and visitors are not allowed to lay in the patient beds with the patient.
- The appointment of the support person by the patient may change over time.
- The appointment of the support person may be rescinded by the patient at any time.
- Work out a plan of who will stay with the patient and how long each visit will be, if the support person role will be rotated between multiple people.
- Remain in the room as long as you can before changing sitting partners, as frequent trips through the ICU could disturb the other patients and may interfere with other nursing care.
- Be aware there may be emergency situations in which the nursing staff or physician asks you to step into the lobby, even if you are the designated support person. Alternate visitation times may be arranged in the case regular visitation is interrupted.
- Please utilize the phone in the ICU Waiting Area for calls concerning the patient. The ICU Waiting Area phone number is 865-213-8239. Do not have family members and friends call into the main ICU as this is disruptive to patient care. The designated support person may call 865-213-8501 to check on the patient. No information will be given to anyone other than the designated support person.
- The patient/family/support person will be given both verbal and written information regarding Visitation Guidelines at the time of admission. It is also available throughout the stay in the Patient Room Handbook and in the ICU Waiting Area.
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
- Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- It’s important to wash your hands before entering and exiting a patient’s room.
- Bring reading material, etc. for yourself to help pass the time when the patient is asleep or unable to talk.
- The nursing staff will attempt to schedule meals, procedures, and treatments at times other than general visitation hours.
- Members of the clergy will be allowed to visit at the patient’s request.
- We highly suggest no live flowers for any ICU patients.
- All of the patient’s valuables need to be taken home prior to admission.
New Mom-to-be
What to Expect
The birth of a child is one of the most significant events in the life of a woman and her family. Sweetwater Hospital Association and their employees strive to provide a comfortable and memorable child birth experience.
Labor and Delivery, Postpartum, and the Nursery are located on the 3rd floor of the hospital. The unit offers state of the art central monitoring, decentralized supply, and workstations in close proximity to patients to provide care from highly qualified staff.
During the labor process, you will be placed on a monitor to evaluate the fetal heart rate, contractions, and your vital signs. Birthing balls and Peanut balls are available for your use. We offer pull out sofas, extra blankets, and pillows for your support person. Wi-Fi access is also available for all your devices. Laboring rooms contain fetal heart monitors and all the necessary delivery equipment.
Our team of employees are skilled with the knowledge needed to care for both mother and infant in any situation during this process. All new employees are enrolled in fetal heart monitoring classes to better understand and interpret fetal strips.
All employees are ACLS (advanced cardiac life support), PALS (pediatric advanced life support), NRP (neonatal resuscitation program), AND STABLE (resuscitation, stabilization and transfer of sick and/or preterm infant) certified in the event a normal delivery turns into a complicated emergency.
Surgical suites are located adjacent to our unit with 24-hour availability to obstetrics medications and anesthesia if desired.
All staff members are trained to assist with educating new mothers. Education includes postpartum care (baby blues, postpartum depression, and signs and symptoms of problems after birth) and newborn care (breastfeeding, formula feeding, safe sleep, jaundice and bathing of newborn).
Our nursery consists of the necessary emergency equipment needed to stabilize and transfer preterm newborns to a higher level facility if necessary. We have warmers equipped to provide c-pap and/or oxi-hood and a Nihon Kohden neonate cardiac monitor.
We encourage rooming in of your healthy newborn infant, however, we will bring your infant to our nursery upon mother’s request depending on staffing availability.
Scheduled cesarean sections or elective inductions may need to be rescheduled or postponed due to the increase in laboring patients. In the event this happens, someone from the Labor and Delivery department will call you the night before or the morning of the procedure. All efforts will be made to accommodate you and reschedule as soon as possible.
Where Do I Go?
During Normal Office Hours:
- Call your physician and they will direct you.
After 5pm or weekends:
- Register through the Emergency Room and the Emergency Department staff will contact the labor and delivery staff to come and evaluate you.
- During the evaluation period, either you will be sent home for follow-up care with your regular doctor or you will be admitted for continued care by the on-call physician or regular doctor.
Scheduled C-Section, Non-Stress Test, and Inductions:
- You will register in the Emergency Room then walk/be escorted to the Labor and Delivery department on the third floor of the hospital where you will be placed in a private room for admission for scheduled procedure.
- When you arrive after 5pm, you pick up the phone at the entrance to the labor and deliver unit and a nurse will direct you to a private room for triage and evaluation of your complaints.
Visitation:
The visitation policy, at this time, consists of one support person per laboring patient.
Advanced Directives
An advance directive is a document telling caregivers what kinds of medical care you want or do not want in the event you are unable to communicate.
There are two main types of advanced directive – the Living Will and the Durable Power of Attorney.
- A Living Will addresses the treatment options a patient chooses to have or not have in the event of a terminal illness.
- A Durable Power of Attorney identifies a selected person to make healthcare decisions for you if you can not.
A Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney are not effective unless you are unable to communicate your wishes and either may be revoked at any time.
Please tell your nurse if you currently have a Living Will and provide a copy for your medical record.
If you would like information on or assistance completing Advance Directive forms please notify your nurse.
If you choose not to have emergency care, in the event your heart stops or you are not breathing, a purple band will be applied to your wrist to alert all staff members of your wishes.
Check-In
During your admission, you will be asked many, many questions by admissions and nursing staff. Though these questions may seem unnecessary or redundant at times, they are important sources of information for developing a plan of care specific to your needs and for maintaining your safety. In some cases questions/signatures are required by state or federal law and apply to all without distinction. These questions/signatures must be addressed each and every time you enter this hospital.
For your safety, you will be required to wear an identification band throughout your hospital stay. This band will be placed on your arm during the admission process. Review the information on this band and notify the admission or nursing staff immediately if anything is incorrect.
Important information/documents to bring to the hospital at the time of check-in:
- List of current medication noting the strength and frequency they are taken. Include all vitamins, minerals and herbal preparations.
- List of allergies and type of reaction experienced.
- List of prior hospitalizations and surgeries.
- Current copy of Advance Directive, Living Will, Power of Attorney or similar document.
- Insurance information.
Discharge
Your doctor will decide when you have recovered enough to go home. At this time he or she will write discharge orders on your medical record.
In most cases the discharge is a rather lengthy process. There are forms to be completed, discharge instructions to gather and review with you and your family, final treatments and medications to administer, referrals for home care to be made, and prescriptions to call to the pharmacy. Please be patient with our staff as they work to make sure all arrangements have be made to ensure you a smooth transition to your home or other care provider.
Food Service
Food service is provided at the bedside for all patients. Each tray is specially prepared according to particular diet your doctor has ordered. In many cases special diets ordered by your doctor are not as tasty as you may be accustomed to because of limitations on calorie, salt, fluid, fat, and carbohydrate intake. It may take some time for you to adjust to this new diet.
Diagnostic tests or procedures may change, delay or cancel your meals. When your testing is completed, your meal will be served unless otherwise ordered by your physician.
If your meal is not delivered in a timely manner, do not hesitate to ask your nurse when you can expect to be served.
If you have any questions about your diet, the Dietician will be glad to discuss them with you. Ask your nurse to tell the Dietician that you would like to have a visit in your room.
A cafeteria is located on the 1st floor of the hospital. It is open to visitors for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Breakfast 6:30am – 8:30am
Lunch 11:15am – 1:30pm
Dinner 5:00pm – 7:00pm (Dinner 5:30pm weekends)
Vending and change machines are also available outside the cafeteria and in the main hospital lobby.
Visitors should not bring food or drink to the patient without checking with nursing staff first.
Sweetwater Hospital Gift Shop
The Sweetwater Hospital Gift Shop is located in the main lobby and available to patient and visitors during day time hours. Items offered include flowers, snacks, toiletries, soft drinks, greeting cards, gifts for mothers and newborns.
Spiritual Care
Spiritual Care is an important part of a patient’s wellbeing. In order to meet the diverse spiritual needs of our community, members of the local Ministerial Association provide chaplain services for Sweetwater Hospital Association. Your nurse will contact a hospital chaplain, or your personal clergymen, at your request.
A Chapel is available on the second floor of the hospital by the service elevators. It is open to all patients and families for quiet meditation and prayer.
Privacy and Confidentiality
Sweetwater Hospital caregivers respect the confidentiality of your relationship with your doctor and other caregivers, and the sensitive information about your health that is part of that relationship. In addition, state and federal laws and hospital operating guidelines protect the privacy of your medical information. You will receive a Notice of Privacy Practices that describes the ways that we use, disclose and safeguard patient information and explains how you can obtain a copy of your health care record.
A copy of this notice is also included in this publication in the Privacy section.
Unless you tell us otherwise, your name will be listed in the hospital directory so that persons who ask for you by name may be directed to your room.
Please tell us if you do not want to be listed in the hospital directory.
Visitation Philosophy and Hours
Philosophy
At SHA we recognize that families/support persons play an important part in the healing process and are vital contributors to the health care team. We welcome families/support persons 24 hours a day according to patient preference. Family members/support persons, as identified by the patient, provide support, comfort, and important information during their hospital stay regardless of time of day, day of week or department. The concept of open visitation allows the nurses the opportunity to assess every situation carefully between the families/support persons to provide the safest environment possible without compromising the best care for the patients. We believe having families/support persons with the patients promotes faster healing, decrease stress and anxiety and allows the staff to learn more about the patient.
Patient’s Visitation Rights & Guidelines
2nd and 3rd Floor Patient Care Units
- One support person may be present at all times, at the patient’s request, unless their presence infringes on the rights of others or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated.
- Posted visitation hours apply to all others with the exception of the designated support person.
- 8:00am – 9:00pm
- A maximum of two to three persons may visit at one time.
- Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- Please do not visit if you or your children are ill with an infectious disease, such as a cold or flu.
- It’s important to wash your hands before entering and exiting a patient’s room.
- The appointment of the support person by the patient may change over time.
- The appointment of the support person may be rescinded by the patient at any time.
- Bring reading material, etc. for yourself to help pass the time when the patient is asleep or unable to talk.
- Be aware that food is not allowed in the patient rooms, but the cafeteria is available to visitors at the following times:
- Breakfast 6:30am – 8:30am
- Lunch 11:15am – 1:30pm
- Supper 5:00pm – 7:00pm
- Be aware there may be emergency situations in which the nursing staff or physician asks you to step into the lobby, even if you are the designated support person. Alternate visitation times may be arranged in the case regular visitation is interrupted.
- Please utilize the phone in the ICU Waiting Area for calls concerning the patient. The ICU Waiting Area phone number is 865-213-8211. Do not have family members and friends call into the main Nursing Unit Number as this is disruptive to patient care.
- Members of the clergy will be allowed to visit at the patient’s request.
- The patient/family/support person will be given both verbal and written information regarding Visitation Guidelines at the time of admission. It is also available throughout the stay in the Patient Room Handbook and in the ICU Waiting Area.
- Exceptions to the posted Visitation Guidelines are at the discretion of the nursing staff and by physician order.
Intensive Care Unit
- One support person may be present at all times, at the patient’s request, unless their presence infringes on the rights of others or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated.
- Posted visitation hours apply to all others with the exception of the designated support person.
- 9:30 – 10:00am
- 1:00 – 1:30am
- 5:00 – 5:30am
- 9:00 – 9:30pm
- A maximum of two persons may visit at one time.
- Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- Please do not visit if you or your children are ill with an infectious disease, such as a cold or flu.
- It’s important to wash your hands before entering and exiting a patient’s room.
- Support persons and visitors are not allowed to lay in the patient beds with the patient.
- The appointment of the support person by the patient may change over time.
- The appointment of the support person may be rescinded by the patient at any time.
- Bring reading material, etc. for yourself to help pass the time when the patient is asleep or unable to talk.
- The nursing staff will attempt to schedule meals, procedures and treatments at times other than general visitation hours.
- Work out a plan of who will stay with the patient and for how long each visit will be if the support person role will be rotated between multiple people.
- Remain in the room as long as you can before changing sitting partners, as frequent trips through the ICU could disturb the other patients and may interfere with other nursing care.
- Be aware that food is not allowed in the ICU, but the cafeteria is available to visitors at the following times:
- Breakfast 6:30am – 8:30am
- Lunch 11:15am – 1:30pm
- Supper 5:00pm – 7:00pm
- Be aware there may be emergency situations in which the nursing staff or physician asks you to step into the lobby, even if you are the designated support person. Alternate visitation times may be arranged in the case regular visitation is interrupted.
- Please utilize the phone in the ICU Waiting Area for calls concerning the patient. The ICU Waiting Area phone number is 865-213-8211. Do not have family members and friends call into the main ICU as this is disruptive to patient care.
- Members of the clergy will be allowed to visit at the patient’s request.
- The patient/family/support person will be given both verbal and written information regarding Visitation Guidelines at the time of admission. It is also available throughout the stay in the Patient Room Handbook and in the ICU Waiting Area.
- Exceptions to the posted Visitation Guidelines are at the discretion of the nursing staff and by physician order.
Emergency Department
- One support person may be present at all times, at the patient’s request, unless their presence infringes on the rights of others or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated. *Both parents may stay with children who are patients.
- A maximum of two persons may visit at one time.
- Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- Please do not visit if you or your children are ill with an infectious disease, such as a cold or flu.
- It’s important to wash your hands before entering and exiting a patient’s room.
- The appointment of the support person by the patient may change over time.
- The appointment of the support person may be rescinded by the patient at any time.
- Bring reading material, etc. for yourself to help pass the time when the patient is asleep or unable to talk.
- Work out a plan of who will stay with the patient and for how long each visit will be if the support person role will be rotated between multiple people.
- Remain in the room as long as you can before changing sitting partners, as frequent trips through the Emergency Department could disturb the other patients and may interfere with other nursing care.
- Be aware that food is not allowed in the Emergency Department, but the cafeteria is available to visitors at the following times:
- Breakfast 6:30am – 8:30am
- Lunch 11:15am – 1:30pm
- Supper 5:00pm – 7:00pm
- Be aware there may be emergency situations in which the nursing staff or physician asks you to step into the lobby, even if you are the designated support person.
- Please utilize the phone in the Emergency Department Waiting Area for calls concerning the patient. Do not have family members and friends call into the main Emergency Department as this is disruptive to patient care.
- Members of the clergy will be allowed to visit at the patient’s request.
- The patient/family/support person will be given both verbal and written information regarding Visitation Guidelines at the time of arrival to the Emergency Department. This information is also available throughout the stay in the Patient Room Handbook and in the Emergency Department Waiting Area.
- Exceptions to the posted Visitation Guidelines are at the discretion of the nursing staff and by physician order.
Labor/Delivery
- One support person may be present at all times, at the patient’s request, unless their presence infringes on the rights of others or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated.
- A maximum of three persons may visit at one time.
- Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- Please do not visit if you or your children are ill with an infectious disease, such as a cold or flu.
- It’s important to wash your hands before entering and exiting a patient’s room.
- The appointment of the support person by the patient may change over time.
- The appointment of the support person may be rescinded by the patient at any time.
- Bring reading material, etc. for yourself to help pass the time when the patient is asleep or unable to talk.
- Work out a plan of who will stay with the patient and for how long each visit will be if the support person role will be rotated between multiple people.
- Remain in the room as long as you can before changing sitting partners, as frequent trips through the Labor and Delivery Area could disturb the other patients and may interfere with other nursing care.
- Be aware that food is not allowed in the Labor and Delivery Area, but the cafeteria is available to visitors at the following times:
- Breakfast 6:30am – 8:30am
- Lunch 11:15am – 1:30pm
- Supper 5:00pm – 7:00pm
- Be aware there may be emergency situations in which the nursing staff or physician asks you to step into the lobby, even if you are the designated support person.
- Please utilize the patient room phone or the waiting area phone for calls concerning the patient. Do not have family members and friends call into the Labor and Delivery Nursing Area as this is disruptive to patient care.
- Members of the clergy will be allowed to visit at the patient’s request.
- The patient/family/support person will be given both verbal and written information regarding Visitation Guidelines at the time of arrival to the Labor and Delivery Area. This information is also available throughout the stay in the Patient Room Handbook and in the Labor and Delivery Waiting Area.
- Exceptions to the posted Visitation Guidelines are at the discretion of the nursing staff and by physician order.
Nursery
- Visitation in the Nursery is limited to the mother of the infant in cases where the infant is unable to visit in the mother’s room.
- Arrangements for visitation in the Nursery by a designated support person, with proper identi-band verification are by request of the mother and at the discretion of the nursing staff and physician.
Surgery
- One support person may be present at all times in the Holding and Recovery Room Areas, at the patient’s request, unless their presence infringes on the rights of others or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated.
- A maximum of two persons may visit at one time in the Holding Area and a maximum of one person in the Recovery Room.
- Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- Please do not visit if you or your children are ill with an infectious disease, such as a cold or flu.
- It’s important to wash your hands before entering and exiting a patient’s room.
- The appointment of the support person by the patient may change over time.
- The appointment of the support person may be rescinded by the patient at any time.
- Bring reading material, etc. for yourself to help pass the time when the patient is asleep or unable to talk.
- Work out a plan of who will stay with the patient and for how long each visit will be if the support person role will be rotated between multiple people.
- Remain in the room as long as you can before changing sitting partners, as frequent trips through the Surgical Area could disturb the other patients and may interfere with other nursing care.
- Be aware that food is not allowed in the Surgical Area, but the cafeteria is available to visitors at the following times:
- Breakfast 6:30am – 8:30am
- Lunch 11:15am – 1:30pm
- Supper 5:00pm – 7:00pm
- Be aware there may be emergency situations in which the nursing staff or physician asks you to step into the lobby, even if you are the designated support person.
- Please utilize the patient room phone or the waiting area phone for calls concerning the patient. Do not have family members and friends call into the Surgical Care Nursing Area as this is disruptive to patient care.
- Members of the clergy will be allowed to visit at the patient’s request.
- The patient/family/support person will be given both verbal and written information regarding Visitation Guidelines at the time of arrival to the Surgical Area. This information is also available throughout the stay in the Patient Room Handbook and in the Surgical Waiting Area.
- Exceptions to the posted Visitation Guidelines are at the discretion of the nursing staff and by physician order.
Waiting Area
Waiting Areas are located on each floor for your comfort and convenience.
SHA Campus Parking
Parking is provided at no charge in designated spaces and lots around the facility.