Riverview Hospital - During Your Stay

Your Room

Our Engineering Department is staffed 24 hours a day and is prepared to handle any problems in your room. If the temperature in your room is uncomfortable, please notify your nurse. Your hospital bed is probably higher and narrower than the one you use at home. If you would like help getting out of bed, please call your nurse. The bed can be adjusted to many different positions and your nurse can assist you in making it comfortable for you.

Calling Your Nurse

The button to contact your nurse is on the speaker that is attached to the side of your bed. Please always use it when you need to get out of bed or if you have any questions.

Telephone

Family and friends may dial you directly by calling the number of your phone. You may call out at any time, but in consideration of other patients, no incoming calls are permitted from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am. However, if your family needs to reach you between these hours, they can call (317) 773-0760 and ask to be transferred to the appropriate patient care unit.

For in-hospital calls, just dial the extension number.
For local calls from the patient room, dial 8, wait for the dial tone, and then dial the number.
Long distance calls must be made through the operator, and placed collect or charged to your home telephone number or credit card.

A TDD, a telephone for people with hearing impairments, is available for calling both in and out. A telephone amplifier also is available. Please ask your nurse for more information about these services.

Television

Television sets are provided in all patient rooms. Most local and cable stations are received. A local cable television channel guide is listed on the inside back cover of the Patient Handbook (view or download Patient Handbook).

In order to provide our patients with information and education, Riverview Hospital subscribes to educational television channels. These channels enable the patient or family/significant other to choose specific health-related videos to watch. See the Patient Handbook in your room for directions on how to access the Patient Education Television System and topics available for viewing.

Valuables

While you are in the hospital, you are encouraged to keep only a small amount of money to purchase newspapers or items from the Gift Shop. For your own protection, we request that you send all valuables such as jewelry, credit cards or large amounts of cash home. If this is not possible, you may store your valuables in the hospital safe. Riverview does not assume responsibility for lost items.

Mail and Flowers

Volunteers will deliver your mail and flowers to you daily. Mail and flowers arriving for you after your dismissal will be forwarded to your home.

Newspapers

Local newspapers are available for purchase at the Outpatient/Emergency entrance, main entrance and Professional Building entrance. Patients receive a free local newspaper.

Gift Cart

Volunteers periodically visit patient rooms with the gift cart. This service is particularly useful for patients who are bedfast or can’t leave the floor to visit the Gift Shop. The cart contains magazines, personal items, small gifts and other sundries.

Smoking Policy

To provide a healthy environment for all our customers and to improve the health of our patients, Riverview Hospital is a smoke-free campus. The hospital asks that individuals voluntarily refrain from smoking on all hospital property.

Safety Guidlines for the Prevention of Falls

Your safety is a priority for our staff. Please help promote your own safety:

Use the call light when needing assistance. Wait for the nurse/assistant to arrive to help you.
Remain lying or seated while awaiting assistance.
Someone will answer your call as soon as possible, please be patient.
Ask for help if you feel dizzy or weak getting out of bed.
Remember you are more likely to feel faint or dizzy after lying or sitting for a long time.
If you must get up without waiting for help, sit on the side of the bed a while before standing, then rise slowly and carefully before walking.
Walk slowly and carefully when out of bed. Do not lean or support yourself on rolling objects such as IV poles or your bedside table.
It is recommended you wear non-skid footwear when out of bed. If you do not have any with you, we can supply you with the correct footwear.
Always follow your physician orders and your caregivers’ instructions when you require assistance when out of bed.
Do not tamper with any alarm devices in use; these are reminders and are designed to help ensure your safety.
Special Note: Because hospital staff cannot remain constantly at the patient’s bedside, a family member may stay with the patient. Ask the nursing staff if there are specific times when a family member's presence would be beneficial. We also request that you leave electric appliances such as hair dryers, electric razors, radios, hair curlers, clocks and televisions at home. Riverview requires that patients wear pajamas or a hospital gown and protective foot wear at all times within the hospital. The RehabCare Center requires patients to wear their own clothes during the day.

Visitors

Visitors' Policy

We recognize and understand the valuable support and encouragement that friends and relatives provide to patients. Rest, however, is also an important part of recovery. Therefore, visits are welcomed within the following guidelines:

Two visitors at one time.
Visits should be limited to short periods.
People with contagious illnesses should not visit.
Smoking is not permitted in the hospital or on hospital grounds.
If children become noisy or disruptive or interfere with medical care, they may be asked to leave the patient area.
Clergy may routinely call on their parishioners from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. Clergy may visit at any time during a critical situation.

Visiting Hours

Cardiac Recovery: Visiting hours are open for family members.
Intensive Care: 7 -11 am; 1-4 pm; and 7-11 pm. Visitors must be age 14 or older. Two visitors at a time.
Maternity Center: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; fathers or significant others may visit at any time and may spend the night; children other than siblings must be 10 or older to visit; siblings are not to spend the night; there is limited visitation for infants in the Special Care Nursery; two support persons may be present for delivery, and one support person during labor.
Medical and Surgical Units: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Pediatric Patients: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; parents may visit at any time.
RehabCare Center: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; visitors are encouraged to visit after 4 p.m. when therapies are completed.
Transitional Care Unit: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For Relaxation and Fun

Courtyard and Garden

A courtyard is located on the third floor between the north and west wings. Weather permitting, patients may go outside from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Please talk to your nurse if you wish to use the courtyard; you may need to have a physician’s order. You also must be accompanied when using the courtyard. In the event of an emergency, a telephone is located in the courtyard with direct access to Security. Smoking is prohibited in the courtyard. The Healing Garden located south of the Women’s Pavilion entrance offers a quiet place for relaxation and reflection.

Radio Disney Family Fun Room

The Radio Disney Family Fun Rooms is located on the Women's and Children's Unit for pediatric patients. The space is designed to offer a respite for families to watch Disney-themed movies and participate in activities for the entire family.

Meals & Snacks

At Your Request – Room Service Dining

Meeting the nutritional needs of our patients helps accelerate the recovery process. To help do this, we are pleased to offer At Your Request – Room Service Dining. Order what you would like to eat from our menu – when you want to eat – anytime between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Ask for a Room Service menu if there is not one at your bedside.

Cafeteria

The Riverview Cafeteria is located on the second floor and is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. seven days a week. For your convenience, the daily cafeteria menu may be accessed by dialing 7158. The cafeteria offers a variety of hot entrées during the following times only:

	Breakfast	6:30 am to 10:00 am
	Lunch	11:00 am to 1:30 pm
	Dinner	4:45 pm to 6:30 pm

Vending Machines

Coffee, soda and juices, as well as snack items, are available throughout the day in the vending area on the second floor. Vending machines also are located on the first floor of the Riverview Surgery Center, the Emergency Center and the lower level of the Women’s Pavilion.

Gift Shops

Hospital Gift Shop

The Hospital Gift Shop, staffed by the Riverview Hospital Auxiliary, is located off the Atrium on the second floor (view hospital floor plan). A variety of gifts, toiletries, clothing, and jewelry is available. Call (317) 776-7135.

	Monday through Friday	9:00 am to 4:00 pm*
	Saturday & Sunday	12:30 pm to 4:00 pm*
	* Occasional evening hours

Women's Boutique and Family Resource Center

The Riverview Women’s Boutique and Family Resource Center is located on the first floor of the Riverview Women’s Pavilion. The Boutique offers specialty services and products for those diagnosed with cancer, as well as a wide array of products and gifts for new and expectant mothers. Call (317) 770-2444 or email womensboutique@riverview.org.

	Monday through Friday	9:00 am to 5:00 pm
	Saturday	noon to 4:00 pm

Pastoral Care

In a time of illness, crisis or grief, individuals often turn to their faith and belief systems for help and strength. At Riverview, we recognize the importance of an individual’s emotional and spiritual well-being, and how these effect a person’s overall healing. Riverview’s Pastoral Care department provides emotional and spiritual support to patients, family, staff and physicians. We recognize and respect the many different religions and faith systems individuals have. We work with area churches to provide support to all individuals who desire support. For more information about Pastoral Care, please call (317) 776-7391.

Patient Support

When patients are admitted to Riverview, they are asked if they have a church they would like us to contact. On behalf of our patients, we will contact their church to let them know about the hospital admission. Due to patient privacy laws, we will not give them any specific information about the reason for admission or diagnosis. Chaplains offer emotional and spiritual support to those with or without religious affiliation. Patients may request a chaplain to visit at any time during their hospital stay by simply letting their caregiver know. To ensure that everyone has access to spiritual care when needed, our pastoral care team is on call 24/7.

The core values from which we serve flow from our love for God and a love for people. The spiritual and emotional support provided by Pastoral Care is given for all persons regardless of race, gender, age or religious affiliation. And as such, each person is treated with dignity, respect and worth. We believe that each individual has a basis of strength and faith that they draw upon, and we respect these individual beliefs.

Chapel Services

There is a prayer chapel for patients, families, visitors and staff on the second floor of the hospital near the Emergency Center. This chapel is always open, allowing individuals a quiet place for reflection and prayer. Special services are held in the chapel during special holidays, such as Christmas and Good Friday. Information about services is announced, and the information is given to nurses and staff throughout the hospital.

Care Notes

In hospital waiting areas and lobbies are brochure racks that include Care Notes. These are pamphlets that provide readers information on various topics, such as grieving, how to talk to children about death, aging, depression and many more spiritual and emotional topics.

Dial-a-Prayer

Individuals can call (317) 776-7390 at any time to hear an inspirational message and prayer. This message is updated daily Monday – Friday.

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