What to Bring 
Registration
Consent for Treatment
Identification Band
What are Advance Directives?
Valuables
HIPAA
Patient Safety 
Case Management

What to Bring
For your stay in the hospital, we suggest you bring only the essential toilet articles, pajamas or slippers, and robe. In order to comply with fire department regulations and provide for your safety, we must restrict the types of electrical devices brought to the hospital. Televisions of any kind, electrical radios, electric hair dryers, electric hair rollers and heating pads are not permitted. Cellular phone use is not permitted in the hospital.

Registration
Each patient is registered through the patient access office, where an admitting history is taken. You will be asked a number of questions. If the routine seems long at times, we ask for your patience. You may be asked to sign a release of information form and an assignment of benefits form. These forms will be sent to your insurance company so that the company will process claims for payment of insured costs directly to the hospital. Please remember to bring your insurance cards and any advance directives with you when you come to the hospital.

Consent for Treatment
By coming to the hospital, patients consent to basic diagnostic and treatment procedures as appropriate for their condition. This is commonly known as "implied consent". However, certain medical procedures will require your further "informed" consent. For example, if surgery is needed, an informed consent for surgery form is to be signed in consultation with the surgeon. Your doctor(s) will discuss with you (or your parent or legal guardian, if you are a minor) the possible need, risks, benefits and alternatives for treatments, operations, or special tests.

If you do not fully understand why and for what you are consenting, ask your doctor for more information and, if necessary, more time to decide. You can refuse treatment at any time. The doctor cannot treat you without your consent to procedures that involve certain risk factors, except in an emergency in which your life or your health is in serious jeopardy and immediate action is necessary. We encourage you to become fully informed about every aspect of your hospitalization.

Identification Band
Upon admission to Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers you will have an identification band placed on your wrist. This band must be worn during your entire stay in the hospital, as the information contained on it identifies you to each person taking care of you.

Valuables
Patients are asked not to bring jewelry, credit cards, and large amounts of cash or other such valuables to the hospital. Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers cannot assume responsibility for loss of personal items. It is recommended that you keep no more than a small amount of cash on hand. Larger amounts of money and other valuables can be checked into the hospital safe. Remember to make arrangements to pick up your valuables prior to discharge.

Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers regrets that we cannot be responsible for loss or breakage of dentures, hearing aids, eyeglasses or contact lenses. If you wear dentures, please ask the nurse to give you a special denture container. When you find it necessary to remove your dentures, hearing aid, eyeglasses or contact lenses, please make sure that you place them in the top drawer of your bedside table.

HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 is also referred to as HIPAA. HIPAA protects the use and disclosure of health information that is deemed protected, such as information that relates to a person's physical or mental health, the provision of healthcare or payment for healthcare. HIPAA requires that each patient treated at an SVCMC facility receive a Notice of Privacy Practices. The Notice of Privacy Practices sets forth the patient's privacy rights and where to seek information at SVCMC. If you have a complaint regarding a Privacy Issue, or require additional information, please call the SVCMC Privacy Line at 212-356-4700.

Patient Safety
While a patient in one of our hospitals, your safety is of the utmost importance. While you are in the hospital, you should only take medications administered by the staff. This includes vitamins, herbs, and medications not requiring a prescription. Be sure to review the "Patient Guide to Food, Drug, and Herb Interactions" that will be provided. If you have any concerns, please speak with your nurse.

We discourage visitors from bringing food from the outside due to safety factors, infection control concerns, and dietary restrictions. When transferring from one area to another, from the bed to a chair, please remember staff is here to help. Please ask for assistance. For patients admitted to the behavioral health unit, please do not bring plastic bags, razors, lighters, cigarettes, and glass containers onto the unit.

We do not encourage bringing personal electric appliances from home, including cell phones. If you have a special need, please inform your nurse. Please adhere to all isolation signs on patient doors. See the nurse if you have any questions. Please bring to the staff's attention any issues that you feel will affect your safety (e.g., water on the floor).

The JCAHO-originated "Speak Up" campaign has been endorsed by SVCMC to further promote our commitment to patient safety.

Case Management
The Department of Case Management coordinates the Discharge Planning Program at Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers.  Professional staff, including RN Case Managers and Social Workers, monitor a patients hospital stay from admission to discharge.  In this way, we ensure you are medically ready at the time you leave the hospital.

Case Management staff work closely with you, your family, your physician and other members of the health care team in planning to meet your post hospital care requirements.  This planning may include referrals to meet your medical, nursing, psychosocial, financial and rehabilitative needs.  Staff will advocate for you in obtaining the services that you need and are entitled to receive.

Additionally, social workers may provide crisis and brief service counseling for you and your family.  They may also refer you to agencies that can assist with a range of psychosocial issues, community based services and linkages to government entitlement programs.

The department is open Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. For further information, please contact Case Management at 212-604-7938 or Social Work at 212-604-8585.