Your Stay at Seven Oaks

While in the hospital, professional caregivers are available around the clock. We know that family, and even friends, are often able to see small changes in the patient’s condition. These changes – such as a change in breathing or unusual confusion or thinking problems-may be an important sign that something is wrong, or that his or her condition is about to become more serious.

Please be sure to talk to the nurse if you feel something is not right.

While in the hospital your health care team will discuss your Advanced Care Plan (ACP). This document allows you to state your preferences for medical treatment, as well as to legally designate someone to make healthcare decisions if you are unable to do so or if you choose to have someone else make health care decisions. If you already have an ACP, please discuss it with your doctor or nurse and arrange to have a copy placed in your medical record.

If you would like more information or would like to complete an ACP, please speak with your nurse or doctor.

Many patients require transportation services upon their discharge. All fees associated with transportation services such as handi-transit are the responsibility of the patient and family.

Please speak to your nurse if you require assistance with making these arrangements.

To call your nurse, use the call button located in your room. Call buttons are located at your bedside.

There is also a pull cord in the bathroom. When you pull the cord, the nursing station is alerted that you need help. A staff member will respond to your signal as soon as possible.

You may be asked for consent before you have tests or procedures. Before you make a decision, it is important that you feel everything has been explained to your satisfaction. If you are unsure or do not understand something, please make sure to ask for an explanation. Whiteboards will be used to share important information with you and your family regarding the goals of care. If you have any issues with the use of the whiteboard in sharing this information you are to notify the nurse immediately, otherwise the whiteboards will be updated daily.

If you have documented your wishes about the health care you may receive at the moment or in the future in an advance directive such as a representative agreement, a living will, or a similar document, bring this to the attention of your family and health care providers.

Before you leave the hospital please consider the following:

• Who will be taking you home at the time of discharge?
• Who will be assisting you at home?
• Have arrangements been made for equipment at home?
• If you are not going directly home, what is the plan?
• Review written instructions from your doctor or nurse and be sure to ask any questions you may have about medications, activities and diet after discharge.
• Make sure you have scheduled any follow-up appointments, treatments or care you may need.
• Talk to your nurse if you need help making arrangements to have your prescription filled by a pharmacy of your choice.
• Arrange for someone to pick up your prescriptions so they are ready when you get home.
• Pack everything you brought with you, including any medications you were given to take home.

Discharge is a process that starts on admission and ends when you leave the hospital for home or other more appropriate residence, based on your needs.

Discharge does not always mean that you are fully recovered. It means your condition no longer requires acute care in a hospital. Discharge planning ensures that your transition to another level of care at home or another facility is optimized.

Your health care team will work with you and your family on your discharge plan. Discharge time is 10 a.m. Please remember that discharge time will not be delayed if you haven’t arranged to have someone drive or accompany you home. With this in mind, please plan ahead to have a pick up ready for your discharge day.

When you are discharged, your doctor and nurse will give you instructions about post-hospital care. Before you leave make sure you understand all discharge instructions including information about medications and any follow up appointments or care you will need.

Patient meals are prepared at a regional centre and delivered to Seven Oaks General Hospital three times per day. Therapeutic diets based on diet orders from your doctor are available. If you have food allergies or follow a special diet, let your nurse know as soon as you arrive. A variety of special cultural and religious diets can also be accommodated. You may request to speak with a clinical dietitian to discuss your individual diet needs and preferences.

Please speak with your nurse or dietitian before eating any food or snacks brought in by visitors.

Patient meals are delivered:

• Breakfast: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
• Lunch: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• Dinner: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
• Nourishing snacks are also delivered three times per day.

Please let your care provider know if you have any questions or concerns about your care and/or treatment. If you have a complaint, we want to resolve it as soon as possible. If you have voiced a concern to your care provider and feel it has not been resolved, please contact the Patient Care Team Manager whose card is attached on the inside pocket of the patient admission package.

You can also contact our Patient Relations Coordinator at 204-632-3160.

You should make a list of medications you are currently taking and give it to your nurse or physician. Your physician will review your medications and supply equivalents if needed.

Patients are encouraged to discuss questions about medications with your nurse or physician.

Your room is assigned based on the type of medical care you need and the appropriate nursing unit to provide that care. Semi-private and private rooms are used first for a variety of reasons such as: infection control/isolation purposes. Semiprivate and private rooms are limited in the hospital so we are not always able to accommodate private insurance requests for private and semi-private rooms.

It is often necessary, for a variety of reasons (infection control, patient acuity) to move patients to a different room or unit. You will be notified of this prior to the move. You can be assured that regardless of the room or unit you are in you will receive the care you need during your admission.

Under the Personal Health Information Act the personal information we collect about you including your health and health history is confidential.

You have a right to examine the information we collect and to request a copy. You have a right to request your personal information be corrected and the right to give permission for your information to be shared with others.

Patients are an important member of the health care team. You can help make your health care experience safer by being actively involved. Informed patients make better decisions about what is best for them. What can you do?

• Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don’t understand, ask again. It is your body and you have a right to know.
• Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you are getting the right treatments and medications by the right health care professionals. Don’t assume anything.
• Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing and your treatment plans.
• Ask a trusted family members or friend to be your advocate.
• Know what medication you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common healthcare mistakes.
• Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the centre of the heathcare team.

At times you may need to be transferred to another hospital for special tests or procedures, or to accommodate your recovery needs. Arrangements for these transfers will be made by your health care team. The team will keep you fully informed about the reasons for such as transfer.

You will notice a white board at your bedside. Whiteboards have been used in hospitals across Canada to help improve communication with our patients and families. White boards help to keep you and your family updated on the goals for your care and your expected date for discharge.

If at anytime you have concerns about any of the information on the whiteboard please inform your nurse immediately.

If you had a private room or used special supplies or procedure during your stay, please pay your account before you leave the hospital.

In addition to being covered by Manitoba Health, some patients have extended health insurance plans, which may cover the cost of supplies such as crutches, canes, splints and some casts.

Please ask a member of our health care team if you have any questions.

Seven Oaks Hospital uses a team approach to healthcare delivery and many caring people work as part of that team. The interdisciplinary team may include physicians, specialists, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, technologists, healthcare aides, porters, and other professionals. The team works with you to provide the best possible health care by sharing expertise, information, and treatment planning.

Each patient care unit has a Patient Care Team Manager who coordinates care, supervises the unit, and ensures that you receive the best standard of care.