Patient Information
During your stay with us, your health, comfort and well-being are our greatest concerns. We strive to give you the highly skilled and compassionate care you deserve - in a healing environment.
The following will provide you and your family members the information you'll need throughout your stay. More detailed information is available in a Guide to Guest Services located in each patient room. If you have further questions, don't hesitate to ask. We want you to be informed about your care, comfortable with your surroundings and pleased with your service.
Visiting Hours
Visitors are encouraged to be sensitive to the needs of patients and to observe the following established visiting hours and guidelines specific to individual nursing units; All visitors must be at least 16 years old.
Adult Care Unit
Two visitors at a time for short periods, ages 16 and older, can visit.
Critical Care Unit
Two visitors at a time, age 16 and older, can visit between 8:30 am and 8:30 pm. Instructions for entering Critical Care Unit (CCU) to visit are posted by the telephone at the CCU entrance.
Behavioral Health Services Inpatient Unit
Visiting hours are 6 to 8 pm, Monday through Friday, and 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. For safety reasons, all visitors are checked in by Security before entering the unit. Personal belongs not permitted on the unit with a visitor are secured in lockers outside the unit for which the visitor is given a key. Two visitors age 16 and older are allowed to visit at a time.
Women and Children's Center
(Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatrics)
Two visitors at a time, age 16 and older, may visit between 8:30 am and 8:30 pm. This is a secure access unit to provide additional security for the patients. In order to gain access to the unit, all visitors must use a code provided by the patient they are visiting.
Outpatient Surgery
Two visitors at a time are allowed for pediatric patients under age 12. All other patients may have one visitor at a time.
Upon Arrival
Personal Belongings
Please check with your nurse about personal items that you can have during your stay or that could be provided for your use. Valuables, cash and jewelry should not be kept in your room during your stay. If you cannot send these items home for safe keeping, ask your nurse how to have them secured until you go home. You should carefully store and protect your glasses, dentures and hearing aids when they are not in use. If you do not have a storage container one can be provided. They should not be left on your over-bed or night stand where they could become broken or lost.
Medications from Home
Please arrange to have your home medications brought in so they can be identified. During a hospital stay, most, or all of your medications will be provided for you. By bringing them in, it helps us reconcile what you have been taking to what is ordered for your use while in the hospital. If your doctor assigns you to an Observation Bed, some of your medications from home can be used as a cost savings to you. In either case, your medications will be safely stored until you need them or until you go home. Some of your medications may change while you are in the hospital where your reaction to new medications or the discontinuation of previous medications can be carefully monitored.
Meals and Snacks
Your meals and supplemental snacks will be provided for you based on the specific diet your doctor has ordered. Beverages, snacks and full meals are available for your visitors. They can visit The Basement Bistro on the ground floor, the Gift Shop, and the Coffee Kiosk on the first floor, or one of the many vending areas in the Health Center. Please check with your nurse before eating snacks brought in by visitors as they may not be allowed on your therapeutic diet, or because of tests or procedures for which you are being prepared.
Electronics and Entertainment Media
Your room is equipped with a television that receives standard cable channels, as well as internal education channels for your entertainment and education. If you have a roommate, we ask that you respect each other's choices for viewing and noise level. You can use small, hand-held electronics, DVD players and laptop computers. Check with your nurse about the availability to borrow a VCR or DVD player, games or movies or to learn how to connect to our wireless guest Internet network.
Security
Security staff is on duty 24/7 and can be reached via phone ext. 2459 or through the operator by dialing "0." Security patrols the main campus buildings, as well as the parking lots, and will escort you or your visitors to a parked vehicle if this would make you feel more safe and secure. Security can be of assistance in a wide variety of situations so please don't hesitate to contact them.
Lost and Found
Our lost and found items are handled by Security. Please call 258-2459 if you have lost an item during your stay.
Parking
Parking lot signage should help you and your visitors determine where to park. The front, south lot has several handicapped parking spots, as well as a few AdvantAge 50parking spaces. Doctors, clergy and staff sections are marked as such. The Emergency Department and Regional Cancer Center lots are on the west side of the campus. When you are going home, we typically use the canopied Main entrance to protect you from inclement weather.
Communications
Your room telephone can be used for local or long-distance calls, however long-distance calls cannot be charged to your room. You will need to make other arrangements for those charges. Cell phones can be used in most areas of the hospital. Please look for signage where they should not be turned on and used as they may interfere with medical equipment tracings.
To place a call outside of the hospital, dial "8" and then the full, seven digit number, plus area code as needed.
You can receive calls from 7 am until 10 pm. Thereafter, calls to your room are automatically routed though the Health Center operator. Your family and friends may dial your room directly from 7 am to 10 pm by dialing (from Charleston) 348- "4" and the three digit room number or (from Mattoon) 238- "4" and the three digit room number. You can also be reached via the main operator by following prompts on the main hospital number 348- or 258-2525 and giving the live operator the patient's name or room number.
A Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) is available in the Emergency Department for communication with hearing-impaired individuals who have a TDD. The number is 258- or 348-2552.
You can receive regular mail and emails while hospitalized. Through www.sarahbush.org, an e-mail message can be sent to Sarah Bush Lincoln patients. Please be aware that this message will be printed and hand delivered by one of our volunteers. Messages will be distributed several times throughout the day, Monday through Friday, during normal business hours except for some holidays. Please understand that if the recipient is no longer a patient in the hospital, we will be unable to deliver your message.
Smoking
Smoking is strictly prohibited at all Sarah Bush Lincoln properties. Ash trays are available outside entrances for extinguishing cigarettes, not as designated smoking areas. Please ask your visitors to respect this important expectation.
The Gift Shop
The Gift Shop is located in the Main Lobby with a wide variety of merchandise including flowers, snacks, magazines and gift items. Credit cards are accepted. The Gift Shop is operated by volunteers and is open 8:30 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday and from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. You can reach the Gift Shop by dialing ext. 2168. A Coffee Kiosk is open mornings, Monday through Friday, outside the Gift Shop. You can also purchase gifts online and it will be delivered to a patient.
ATM
An ATM machine is available for public use located just outside the Gift Shop.
AdvantAge 50
Inquire about AdvantAge 50, a free membership program for individuals 50 and better. The benefits include educational seminars, social outings and discounts in The Basement Bistro, In Home Medical and Dial-a-Ride to and from the Health Center. For information, call 258- or 348-2422.
Patricia A. Jenkins Medical Library
The Library on the ground floor has a wide variety of medical resources that may assist you. It is open to the public. Hours are 8 am to 4:30 pm and a professional library staff can be reached at ext. 2262.
Prairie Medical Pharmacy
This full-service pharmacy offers quick, convenient services with competitive pricing. Prairie Medical Pharmacy is located just east of the Main Lobby reception desk. Hours are 8:30 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. It can be reached at 258- or 348-2411.
Food & Nutrition Services
Our staff of professional registered dietitians is available to help you with a wide variety of nutritional needs during your stay and when you go home. Your doctor will work with the dietitians to direct your nutritional goals during your stay. If you would benefit from nutritional or weight-loss education as part of your prevention or treatment after you go home, contact your doctor for an order and his/her staff will help you get started.
Support Groups
Sarah Bush Lincoln offers, and is aware of, Support Groups for a wide variety of health-related conditions and diagnoses. Contact Case Management at ext. 2392 for information about support groups in our area.
Your Healthcare Team
During your stay, you may be attended to by a number of healthcare professionals who will provide treatment prescribed by your doctor. Staff members, such as physical therapists, radiologic technologists, occupational therapists, cardiopulmonary therapists and technologists, case managers, audiologists and laboratory technologists, provide a vital link between you and your doctor. Our commitment to quality is reflected in the way these professionals are devoted to your care. Each member of the Health Center family brings his or her own brand of expertise and dedication to the job.
A wide variety of professionals may be involved with your diagnosis and treatment plan of care. The following is some of the individuals that may be involved in your care or service and what skills they add to your dynamic healthcare team at Sarah Bush Lincoln.
Physicians and Mid-level Providers - Doctors (MD or DO), Certified Physician Assistants (PA-C) and Nurse Practitioners (NP or APN) direct the care you receive. You may be cared for by a Hospitalist. Nurses (RNs) are responsible for the coordination of your care 24/7 and deliver hands-on skills for much of your care. Support staff (LPNs, Care Partners and Clerical Partners) support the care delivered by many professionals in a wide variety of diagnostic and therapeutic activities 24/7. Case Managers are nurses that coordinate the plans for you to go home, and they follow your progress throughout your entire stay.
Respiratory Care staff provides preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic services related to your respiratory and cardiovascular needs/conditions.
Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists provide diagnostic and therapeutic services related to your activities of daily living for basic tasks such as dressing and bathing, as well as complex strengthening/endurance rehabilitation after an injury or surgery to a hand, limb or central skeletal/nervous system condition. They use modern equipment and hands-on therapy to rehabilitate you and bring you back to the best possible physical condition after an illness, injury or surgery.
Speech Therapists help diagnose and treat a wide variety of conditions, diagnoses, injuries and/or surgical procedure outcomes. Examples include helping improve speech after a stroke or because of developmental delay, or to help improve swallowing function and cognitive responses after a stroke or brain injury.
Audiologists assist individuals with testing and developing treatment plans/assistive devises for a wide variety of conditions including but not limited to the ears.
Laboratory professionals collect specimens of body fluids and run tests on them as ordered by doctors and mid-level providers to help diagnose and/or treat your condition or illness.
Radiology professionals complete a wide variety of radiological studies that help diagnoses and or treat your condition or illness. These may include X-rays, ultrasound, nuclear medicine studies, CT scans, various kinds of scans and MRI - magnetic resonance imaging.
Going Home
You can leave the Health Center after your doctor discharges you and you receive instructions either from your doctor or a nurse.
Discharge Planning
Many people have a need for medical care or support which will continue after they leave the Health Center. Planning to go home customarily begins early in your stay. Our Case Management staff will provide counseling and help to arrange needed services, including home health care, nursing home care, case management, medical equipment, home-delivered meals or Lifeline® personal emergency response system.
Survey
Following your stay with us, you may receive a telephone call from HealthStream Research. This call will only take a few minutes and your feedback will be used by Sarah Bush Lincoln to continually provide excellent patient care. Patients are randomly selected, and if you are chosen, please complete the survey. If you have caller ID on your telephone, HealthStream Research. the following number will appear on your display: 301-575-9366.
Medical Record Management
While you are at the Health Center, a technical document recording every aspect of your care is maintained. A medical record is used for care management, quality assurance review, financial reimbursement, education, public health, accreditation certification and licensure. Providers of care must keep records to document the services they rendered. While the medical record is the physical property of the Health Center, the information in the medical record belongs to you.
There are very specific rules regarding the authorization to release your medical record. If you need your medical record, the Health Center asks that your request be in writing to:
Medical Record Management
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center
1000 Health Center Dr., P.O. Box 372
Mattoon, Illinois, 61938
You may call the department at (217) 258-2536 or (217) 258-2374. There is a service charge to obtain your record, and a photo identification is required before your record is presented to you.
Finances
Your bill from the Health Center will include charges for your room, nursing care, meals, medications and use of equipment and technicians in administering tests and treatments.
You may also receive additional bills for specific services provided during your inpatient stay, such as a radiologist fee. These services are provided to you by a specialist at your doctor's request, or as required by government regulation. Your doctor(s) will bill you separately for his or her services. If you do not have insurance, you will be required to pay cash at the time of service or make arrangements. Our financial counselors can explain our Financial Assistance Program. If you need help completing insurance, Medicare or Medicaid forms, assistance is available. Please call ext. 2541 from 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday for an appointment.
Health Information Privacy Policies and Forms
Following are links to our health information privacy notice and authorization to disclose protected health information forms. The are saved in a .pdf format and can be viewed and printed from your computer. There is a service charge to obtain your record, and a photo
identification is required before your record is presented to you. These pages are designed for optimum print quality. Please be patient while they download.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to open this file and can be downloaded free.
Privacy Notice (114.9 KB)
Authorization to Disclose Protected Health Information (59.2 KB)
Request for Amendment of Protected Health Information (87.6 KB)
If you have questions about these forms or their use, please call Medical Record Management at (217) 258-2536 or 258-3474.