Oncology, Urology and Colorectal Inpatient Care
Welcome to 6-1400 – our specialty is post-surgery care (oncology, urology, colorectal) and medicine. We look forward to meeting you when you arrive on the unit.
We have put together some information that you may find helpful during your inpatient stay.
What to Bring
During your stay, you may find that you'd like to have some of the following items with you:
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A sweater or bathrobe
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A few sets of comfortable clothing (sweats, pajamas, underclothes, socks)
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Personal items and toiletries (such as toothbrush, favorite comb or brush)
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An electric razor
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Glasses/sunglasses if you need them
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A favorite pillow or blanket (washed and dried)
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Magazines, books, puzzles
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VHS tapes, DVDs, computer games
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Favorite pictures or posters to tape to the wall
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Projects, crafts
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Writing paper, address book, stamps
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Laptop (wireless service is provided though out the hospital)
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List of important telephone numbers
Personal cell phones can be used in the hospital, or local telephone service is available in your room (with TV service) for $7.00/day. This may be billed directly to your phone bill at home or you may use a credit card or cash to pay for the service. You will be able to give your family and friends a phone number that connects directly to your room. These phones receive incoming calls between 8A-8P. You can place outgoing calls 24 hours a day.
If you will need to make long distance phone calls, you can use a calling card or you can call collect. You can purchase long distance calling cards in different dollar amounts from a vending machine near the cafeteria or in the Gift Shop.
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Admission Day
Prior to your day of surgery you may be scheduled for a pre-op screening visit in our Lab and Outpatient Services area near the Main Lobby. There, you will complete some paperwork, and blood samples may be taken. You might also have a chest x-ray and an EKG before going to your scheduled surgery.
On the day of your surgery, you will check in at the same day admission (SDA) area on the ground floor. A family member will be able to stay with you while you are in the pre-admission area. Once you are taken to surgery, there is a waiting room on the first floor for family/friends of patients in surgery – your surgeon will call or go directly to this waiting area to update your family after surgery.
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Your Room
When you arrive on the unit, a nurse will greet you and your family and show you to your room. We have a few private rooms – these rooms are first used for patients who must be in a private room for medical reasons – if private rooms are not in use they are available upon request for a fee of $40.00/night (it is important to know, the room would only remain available if we did not need to use it for medical isolation reasons). Because we receive many requests for private rooms we often have a waiting list that you may place your name on, if you desire a private room.
Each room is equipped with:
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A television and telephone (fee for service)
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Wireless internet access (no charge)
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A bathroom with a tub or shower
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Bathrooms in the patient rooms are for patient use only.
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Family and friends must use public bathrooms located throughout the hospital.
In addition, patients have access to:
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Computers/laptops with an Internet connection
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6-1400/6-3400 shared family waiting area
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The Information Station – located near the main lobby in Room 1.1328
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Miner library is located within the building
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There are also medical librarians available to assist you. Please ask the unit staff about the “Ask a Librarian” service – there is no charge for this service.
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Alternatively, you may ask a librarian for assistance by clicking here.
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Daily Routine
Throughout your hospitalization, good personal hygiene is essential, because you are much more susceptible to infection. Your daily routine includes oral care, a bath or shower, and thorough skin care. Other routine activities include:
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Medical team rounds – members of your medical team (doctors, residents, NP’s) will be around to see you each day. Sometimes they may be in to visit as early as 5 AM – before they go to the operating room for the day. Most days your team will visit you in the late afternoon as well.
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Drawing blood between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. This enables the physician to order any fluid or electrolytes needed for the day. It may be necessary to draw blood more frequently at certain stages of your treatment.
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Taking your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature (vital signs), at least every 4 hours, and often more frequently.
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Walking (activity) is an important part of your recovery after surgery
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Nursing and Physical Therapy will assist you in getting out of bed, getting into a chair and walking immediately after surgery, and until your strength is enough for you to return to your baseline physical function.
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Dressing changes/treatments
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Such as that on the central line site (which would typically be changed on Mondays and Thursdays)
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Wound or surgical dressings – as ordered by your physician/NP team
As your treatment progresses, additional daily activities are added. Your health care team will try to arrange a schedule to fit your needs.
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Patient Safety
It is important that your healthcare providers properly identify you during your stay. You will have a hospital identification band that has your name, medical record number, and date of birth. You will notice the members of your health care team checking your identification band prior to giving medications, hanging blood products, drawing labs, or sending you off the unit for tests.
While in the hospital, your risk of falling increases. Some reasons your risk for falls increases are; unfamiliar environment, lots of equipment in the rooms, you may be weaker than usual; you may be on some medications that change your balance or alertness. Here are some of the ways that you can minimize those risks:
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Keep your call button near you at all times.
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Report any spills or objects that are on your floor or impair your ability to move freely around your room.
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Wear footwear with rubber soles.
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Hospital provided slippers with skid-free soles are available.
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Make sure that you have adequate lighting to see, especially at night.
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Be aware that some medications may cause drowsiness. Ask your nurse or patient care technician for assistance if you ever feel lightheaded or dizzy when getting up.
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Keep assistive devices (e.g. walker, cane, glasses, hearing aid) within reach.
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Keep your bed in the lowest position possible and keep the side rails at the top of your bed raised.
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Be aware that equipment in your room such as your IV pole and the bedside table are on wheels and should not be used for support.
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Be careful not to trip over IV tubing when you get out of bed.
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Patient Discharge
Preparing to Go Home
As you prepare to return home, it is important for you to know how to care for yourself. There is no specific time when you will feel back to normal; it varies for each individual.
If you have questions at any time, talk to a member of the transplant team about your concerns.
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Discharge Plans
Your discharge planning actually started before admission when you chose a home care agency. On the day of discharge, every attempt will be made to discharge you to home by 12 noon. It is recommended that you make arrangements for transportation prior to your day of discharge.
As you get ready for discharge, a care coordinator will discuss with you:
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Where you will fill your prescriptions
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Any need you may have for home care services
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Any intravenous fluid or intravenous medication needed at home
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Dressing changes and catheter care supplies, if needed
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Evaluation
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Your follow-up appointment date, time, and location
Patients receive written information at discharge, including information about:
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Medications
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Self care
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Follow-up appointments
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Contact persons/phone numbers
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For your doctor and/or home health care agency
The nurse caring for you on your discharge day reviews these instructions with you and answers your questions. After you are discharged, use contact names/numbers from your discharge instructions sheet to reach the best person for your concerns.
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Visitor Information
Visitors Make All the Difference
Most beneficial for many patients is the support they receive from their families and friends. On 6-1400 we recommend visiting between 11 am – 8 pm daily. We do not restrict visiting at other times. One adult (> 18 years of age) may stay overnight with a patient if the patient is in a private room. We are not able to have visitors stay overnight in the shared patient rooms, but will assist you with accommodations when circumstances require family to be close by.
For visitors:
Even when frequent visits are not possible due to distance, work, or school schedules, it is possible to be supportive:
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Many patients have dedicated telephones and access to computers and the Internet.
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You can send cards, letters, and gifts. While all of these take some planning and thoughtfulness, they make it possible to support the patient even when you cannot be present daily.
Work or time away from the hospital may allow you to keep stress to a minimum, enabling you to continue being supportive throughout the entire hospital stay and the recovery phase. If you can make visits, don’t worry about the frequency or duration. There may be periods when there is not an opportunity for conversation. During these times, your presence is appreciated. The presence can be in person or in spirit, and can be accomplished with a note or reminder that you are there. It’s okay if your work is therapeutic for you.
Guidelines for Visitors
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Visitors may bring gifts to patients.
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Greeting cards are always appreciated.
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The patient can give visitors a mailing address (for their room) after they are admitted.
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Children under 14 years old need to be accompanied by an adult. However, if it is the patient’s child, it is generally allowed.
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Children cannot be unattended while visiting the unit.
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For safety reasons, children should not play at the Nurse’s Station or in the kitchen area.
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Please advise any visitors that if they have had any exposure to chicken pox or other communicable illnesses, they should consult a doctor before visiting. If they have visited and later discover exposure, please notify your nurse.
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The rooms can become quite crowded, so we do ask you to limit the number of visitors in the room at one time.
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During the times when a patient’s condition requires special attention by the medical or nursing staff, the number of visitors and the duration of visits should be limited.
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Visitors may be asked to leave the room for short periods during certain aspects of care.
Visitor Lounge
There is a lounge area for your visitors across the hall from our unit. In the lounge, visitors will find sitting area with a TV/VCR, and a computer with Internet access. Children cannot be left unattended in the lounge.
Lodging and Accommodations
Strong Guest Services can assist you with lodging and accommodations. Accommodations are often available at Hope Lodge for cancer patients and their families. These rooms are first available to patients who are receiving frequent outpatient treatments and do not live in this area. For information, call 800-ACS-2345 (TTY: 866-228-4327).
There are also special arrangements (discounted rate) for families of patients hospitalized at University of Rochester Medical Center at the RIT Inn and conference center. A social worker from the hospital can assist you with these arrangements.
Support Services
Some of the support services available to patients and families in the hospital are:
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Chaplain services
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Social workers
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Volunteers/advocates
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Librarian services
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Educational Support
For more information about the Educational services that are offered by the Wilmot Cancer Center, please click here.
If you have undergone a urostomy, colostomy, or ileostomy there will be a specially trained wound/ostomy nurse who will assist you in learning about care of your appliance and adjusting to the changes in your body.
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If possible, it is best if you choose someone to come and learn this information with you. You may find you would like some help with this at home.
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Financial Services
Our financial coordinator will assist you with any financial concerns about your hospital charges. She can be reached Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m at 585-275-6021.
Clinical documentation is sent to your insurance company, where a medical director will review your information and determine whether you fit their criteria for inpatient admission, according to your insurance contract rules and regulations.
Other important financial information:
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Home Care
Many of you will go home with medications or new equipment. These first few weeks at home may be overwhelming for patients and their family members. We can help arrange home care services, such as nursing services, pharmacy vendors, and catheter care supplies. Your home care agency will be determined by your preference, your insurance, and where you live.
Some of the nursing and infusion agencies we most frequently use are:
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Visiting Nurse Service (VNS)
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LIfetime Care
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VNA of Western NY
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Lincare
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American HomePatient
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Coram Healthcare
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PharmHealth Infusion (PHI)
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CNY Infusion
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Critical Care Systems
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NYS County Health Departments
There is valuable information for patients and families being cared for at Strong Memorial Hospital – already available on the SMH website. Click here to find out more.
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