Saint Michael's Medical Center Patient Information

Saint Michael's Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO). Concerns or complaints about patient care and safety should be brought to the attention of the hospital's administration office, at (973) 877-5411. If the issues are not resolved, they should be brought to the attention of JCAHO's Office of Quality Monitoring, at (800) 994-6610 or at complaint@jcaho.org.

PRE-ADMISSION TESTING
To make your stay as brief as possible, your physician may ask you to have tests done before admission. These are scheduled weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., usually a week before admission. On testing day, please go to Admissions in the Main Building, on Central Avenue between Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard and University Avenue. Please bring your insurance card and at least one form of personal identification that shows your address.

Prior to your admission, you will be contacted by an admissions representative to confirm your admission and the availability of a bed. Also, if you have an advance directive (Living Will), please provide the admissions representative with a copy upon admission so that it may be included in your medical records. Ask the Admitting Registrar for additional information about advance directives.

When you arrive at the hospital, you should go directly to the Admissions Department located in the main lobby. If you are admitted in an emergency situation, a representative from the Admissions Department will speak to you or a member of your family to inquire about insurance coverage and to obtain other pertinent information.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Upon admission, rooms are assigned based on availability and medical needs. Later, room transfers may occur for medical reasons.

PERSONAL ITEMS
Please bring to the hospital your hospitalization and insurance papers and such personal items as bathrobe, slippers, sleepwear, and essential toiletries. Do not bring medicines, but be sure to bring your medication record to show your health-care team. While you are hospitalized, your physician will order necessary medications and will make sure you get necessary prescriptions before you leave.

JEWELRY AND VALUABLES
Saint Michael’s Medical Center is not responsible for the security of jewelry or other valuables. Please leave your valuables at home or send them home with a family member. In the event that you are unable to do so, please ask your nurse to have your valuables placed in the hospital safe.

DENTAL AIDS
When not in use, please put dental aids in a container that is clearly marked, and put the container in your nightstand drawer. Do not place these aids in cups, in napkins, or on food trays, where they are at risk of being lost or discarded.

MEDICAL SERVICES
The Saint Michael’s Medical Center medical staff consists of more than 370 physicians who are highly qualified in their field or specialty. Your doctor is responsible for directing your diagnosis and treatment at Saint Michael’s Medical Center. He or she will decide your treatment plan, diet, and medication and will order any special care you may need. Your doctor is also responsible for discharging you from the hospital to go home or to another facility. Decisions regarding your care are based on your identified treatment, and service needs and are made in accordance with hospital policy.

PHYSICIAN VISITS
Most doctors visit their patients early in the morning before their regular office hours or late in the day after their offices close. Physician visits offer a good opportunity for you to inquire about your treatment, your medications, and other medical concerns.

STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS
Saint Michael’s Medical Center is a major teaching hospital and offers a variety of residency programs. At times, medical residents may observe or participate in patient care.

PRIVATE DUTY NURSES
Patients have a right to choose a private duty nurse provided that the nurse meets the same competency criteria that exist for other regularly employed nurses at the hospital. The fee for private duty nursing is separate from your hospital bill.

ORGAN DONATIONS
New Jersey law requires hospitals to determine upon admission whether a patient has made an anatomical gift, or organ donation, and to whom the gift was made. Saint Michael’s Medical Center is required to maintain this information as part of each patient’s permanent records. Saint Michael’s Medical Center participates with the Sharing Network, a nonprofit, federally certified, state-approved procurement organization responsible for the recovery of organs and tissue for New Jersey residents currently awaiting transplants. The Sharing Network is also dedicated to educating the public about the benefits of donating and transplantation and supporting both donor families and recipients. You will find more information on organ donation in your admission packet.

ADVANCE DIRECTIVES
(HEALTH-CARE PROXY OR LIVING WILL)
Advance directives, authorized by the Patient Self-Determination Act, give you the opportunity to direct your medical care, including life-sustaining measures, in the event that you become unable to communicate your wishes. You will find a brochure with more information about advance directives in your admission packet. The hospital honors the advance directives to the extent allowable by law, regulation, and the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care. The existence or lack of an advance directive does not determine a patient’s access to care or treatment.

PATIENT RIGHTS
New Jersey has established a Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for hospital patients covering medical information and records, billing, personal needs, privacy, confidentiality, and other issues. Copies are posted throughout the hospital, including patient rooms. For more information you can call the customer satisfaction manager, at (973) 877-5295.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION
The care and comfort of patients and their families are very important to everyone at Saint Michael’s Medical Center. If you are concerned about any aspect of care, you have the right to request that the issue be addressed promptly. The nurse manager, patient representative, and nursing supervisors are all available to assist you.

VISITORS
All visitors must obtain a visitor's pass from the information desk in the main lobby. In general, only two visitors per patient are allowed at a time; however, special arrangements can be made with your physician and the nurse manager. For visiting hours, click here.

PHYSICIAN SERVICES
The cost of physician services rendered to you during your hospital stay is not included in your hospital bill. Each physician involved in the various areas of care you receive (e.g., anesthesia, radiology, Emergency Room, or pathology) will bill you directly for the services he or she provides. If you have any questions about these fees, discuss them with the physician who admitted you or with the physician whose name appears on the bill you receive.