Admission
As you check-in to our hospital, you will be welcomed by an admitting clerk who will obtain patient and insurance information in addition to securing the required signatures on consent forms. The questions asked are necessary for our records and legal prerequisites. If you are the holder of private commercial insurance, we ask that you present a copy of your insurance identification card to the admitting clerk.
Patients being admitted under the provisions of Medicare and Medicaid should present their health insurance cards or coupons. It is the Patient’s Responsibility to pre-authorize their hospital admission with their insurance company prior to admission. Your physician will make all of the necessary arrangements for treatment while you are in our care.
Accomodations
We wish to make your stay as comfortable as possible at MHSC. We offer a choice of accommodations and will do our utmost to honor your preferences.For your convenience, we have a safe for the keeping of your valuables.Should you avail yourself of the use of our safe, we allow 24 hour access to your valuables through our Security Department.
Financial Arrangements
As part of your hospital service, we will submit a claim to your insurance company or entitlement program for your care. After your claim has been paid, or if your insurance company does not reimburse the hospital in a timely manner, the balance of the account becomes your responsibility. Your hospitalization coverage is an agreement between your insurance company and yourself. Hospital personnel will fully cooperate in expediting your insurance claims. However, you are ultimately responsible for the resolution of your hospital accounts.
If you have limited or no insurance coverage, we encourage you to contact the Business Office as soon as possible so that we can assist you in making payment arrangements and provide you with information about our medical assistance program, Share the Care, that is available at MHSC.
Please note, our bill does not include your attending physician’s fee. There may also be a separate charge for the radiology, emergency care, and other physicians for their services. These charges will be billed directly to you by the physician.
Visitation Guidelines
Part of your emotional well-being and recovery may include visits from family and friends. As these visitors are guests in the hospital, we ask that they observe the guidelines of the nursing department they are visiting. If unsure of those guidelines, please call ahead or ask at the nurse’s station in the appropriate department.
Tobacco-Free Campus
Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County has implemented a tobacco-free policy. There are no exceptions to this policy including cigarettes, pipes, smokeless tobacco, and cigars. This includes all buildings, parking lots, and walkways on the entire campus. Thank you for respecting this regulation.
Nutrition Services
The Department of Nutrition Services operates a cafeteria serving breakfast from 8am – 10:30am; lunch from 11:30am – 1:30pm; and dinner from 5pm- 6:30pm. Coffee, tea, fruit punch, and water are free of charge to the public. The cafeteria is located on the basement level of the hospital. With something new served each day, you may find anything from a cut of roasted tenderloin to a selection of pastas. You also have the choice of ordering from Room Service out of the menu provided in each room.
Safety and Security
Periodically, the hospital practices emergency drills. The type of drill and location are announced overhead. During a fire drill, all main doors will automatically close and your patient room door will be closed by a member of the nursing staff. In the event of real emergency, all necessary precautions will be taken to ensure the safety of our patients and visitors.
MHSC has a trained Security Dept. that may occasionally be needed to assist in an emergency or event. They are available 24 hours a day. Please ask your nurse if you feel they are needed.
Notary
MHSC offers complimentary notary services. Should you require such services, please notify the nursing staff or call Health Information Management at 352-8420.
Spiritual Services
If you would like to request spiritual/chaplain services, please let any of our staff members know or call the Chaplain phone at ext. 8497. If you would like immediate assistance, please ask one of our staff to have someone called in for your needs.
Social Services/Discharge Planning
The Social Services/Discharge Planning Department is available to assist you in assessing discharge needs and making referrals to agencies specializing in home health services. They can assist in obtaining medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and oxygen. Post-discharge visits can be made to assist with unexpected needs. This department also offers information regarding financial assistance and bereavement counseling. Please contact Social Services/Discharge Planning at 352-8550.
Surgery and Anesthesia
The most recent technologies have enhanced the surgical and anesthesia services at MHSC. The benefits the patient receives are shorter hospital stays, less discomfort, and a more rapid return to normal activities. Physicians, Surgeons, and Surgical nurses trained in a variety of specialties can meet the needs of our patients through MHSC’s well-equipped Surgery Department. Following the surgical procedure, the patient is transferred to the recovery room for vital monitoring prior to being returned to his/her hospital room.
Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County and its laboratory are Joint Commission accredited. The Joint Commission has been accrediting hospitals for more than 50 years. Its accreditation is a nationwide seal of approval that indicates a hospital meets high performance standards. For more information on Joint Commission accreditation, visit The Joint Commission.