Patient Guide

Admissions

Patients may pre-admit once admission has been scheduled. Admissions are processed via the registration clerks in the front lobby.  After-hours admissions are processed at the registration desk in the Emergency Department. Once you arrive on the nursing unit, the staff will help you get acquainted with your room and your surroundings. 

Patients undergoing outpatient surgery should report to the registration desk in the front lobby. Outpatient registration hours are from 6:30 am until 4:30 pm. 

Expectant mothers should check in through the Emergency Department before coming to Labor and Delivery. If you are an admission please check in via the registration clerks in the front lobby.

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ATM

For your convenience, an ATM is located on the first level of the hospital near the emergency entrance.

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Bedside Shift Report

We want you to feel comfortable and cared for throughout your stay, so at each nursing shift change—about every 12 hours—your nurse will introduce your new nurse to you. The team will talk about your progress, medicine and tests scheduled for the day. Ask questions. The more you’re involved, the better and safer your care.

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Bedside Technology

During your stay, you may see your doctors and nurses using computers or tablets. These tools help them care for you by providing around-the-clock monitoring, a variety of resources and quick communication with the rest of your healthcare team. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or nurse.

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Cafeteria

Location: 1st floor

Hours:

Breakfast: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Lunch: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Dinner: 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

All visitors are welcome to dine in the cafeteria for breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday.

Because of specific dietary needs and/or medication interactions, patients should not use the cafeteria without specific permission from their physician. Likewise, well-meaning relatives and visitors should not bring food from outside the hospital to a patient without physician approval.

Snacks and soft drinks may be purchased 24 hours per day from the vending machines located adjacent to the Dining Room and the Emergency Room. Non-perishable snacks and various beverages are also available in the Gift Shop adjacent to the main lobby.

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Calling Your Nurse

Your room is connected to the nursing station via an intercom system. To call for your nurse, press the NURSE call button located at your bedside. If you have any questions on how to use the call button, ask a staff member to show you.

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Cellphones & Video

During your stay, you may see members of your care team using mobile phones. At Valley View Medical Center, our staff are permitted to use phones for work-related activities, such as communicating with doctors or other care team members. Employees are not allowed to use phones for non-work-related activities. There are many work related benefits of cellphones and other communication devices, including access to medical references, clinical tools and patient information.

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Channel Listing for TV

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Concerns About Your Care

Please speak with your nurse or nursing supervisor if you have any questions or concerns about your care. If your issue still is not resolved, then contact the hospital patient advocate. You also have the right to file your complaint with either:

The Arizona Department of Public Health
AZ Department of Health Services 
150 North 18th Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: 602.542.0883

Office of Quality and Patient Safety
The Joint Commission
One Renaissance Blvd.
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Website: www.jointcommission.org, then click “Report patient safety event”

Sometimes a healthcare choice can involve an ethical concern—such as a wish to refuse life-saving treatment or a disagreement over advance directives. Our medical ethics committee can help you and those who are here to support you make difficult decisions.

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Discharge

When you are medically ready to leave the hospital, your physician will write a discharge order on your medical chart. Your nurses and your physician will discuss discharge information with you, including special diets, medications and limitations on your activities. The case manager will assist you in making arrangements for home care or other community services, if needed. Your physician will let you know if an office visit is necessary after discharge. 

Be sure to check your room for all personal belongings and reclaim any valuables from the hospital safe. When your transportation arrives, please allow your nurse to escort you from the hospital.

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Electrical Appliances

For your safety, we reserve the right to inspect any electrical appliances brought into the hospital.

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Financial Arrangements

When you are admitted, you should confirm financial arrangements for your care. If you have hospitalization insurance, please bring your policy, identification card, and other pertinent information with you. 

Most insurance companies require pre-admission certification.  Some require a second opinion before surgery. Please review your pre-admission requirements and coverage and advise your physician of these requirements. This process must be complete before admission, unless it is an emergency. If this has not been done in accordance with the policy's requirements, your insurance benefits may be reduced or denied. Additionally, if the patient leaves the hospital “against medical advice” (“AMA”) your insurance may choose not to pay for the hospitalization. 

As a courtesy, Valley View Medical Center will file a verifiable third-party claim and help in any way possible to expedite their payment. However, please remember that the patient is ultimately responsible for the hospital bill because an insurance policy is a contract between patients and their insurance company.

Most hospital insurance plans do not fully cover hospital bills. All bills are payable in full at the time of discharge unless financial arrangements have been made by calling 928.788.2273 before discharge. At the time of discharge, you should be prepared to pay the estimated balance due over the verifiable insurance coverage, or make arrangements with the Business Office. The Business Office is open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Arizona time Monday through Friday.

The Business Office will file your claim for insurance assigned to the hospital. If an insurance payment is less than our estimate, you will be billed for the balance due. Valley View Medical Center can provide payment arrangements and financing options. 

Assistance with Medicaid eligibility is available by calling the Business Office toll-free at 928.788.2273.

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Fire Safety

We conduct fire drills from time to time. If you hear an alarm, stay where you are. In an actual emergency, hospital staff will tell you what to do.

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Flowers

Flowers are delivered to patient rooms by individual florists. Please note that flowers are not allowed in Intensive Care Units.

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Food Services

Because nutrition is an important part of your recovery, our registered dietitian prepares a variety of menus according to your doctor's instructions. If your doctor wishes you to adhere to a special diet once you have left the hospital, our dietitian can explain your new eating plan and how you can adapt it to your lifestyle.

If lab tests or x-rays delay your meal time, the nursing staff will be happy to order a tray after you return to your room. One guest tray will be provided free of charge for families of patients age 12 and under. Nourishment rooms are available on each nursing unit. A variety of snacks and beverages are provided for our patients.

Because of specific dietary needs and/or medication interactions, patients should not use the cafeteria without specific permission from their physician.  Likewise, well-meaning relatives and visitors should not bring food from outside the hospital to a patient without physician approval.

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Gift Shop

Location: 1st floor

Hours of Operation:

Mon. to Fri.: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sat. to Sun.: Closed
Cash, check and credit cards accepted.

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Hearing Impaired

We have services available for people who are deaf or hearing impaired. If you need these services, please contact your nurse.

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Hospital Charges

Once you are discharged from the hospital, you may receive a separate bill from the physician, anesthesiologist, pathologist, radiologist, or emergency department physician. These physicians are not employees of the hospital. 

If you have questions about your coverage of your bill, please call 928.788.2273 and we will be happy to help you.

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Hourly Rounding

A nurse will visit you every hour during the day and every two hours at night to check on your comfort, help you change positions in bed, assist with trips to the bathroom, and make sure you can reach your phone, call light, and personal items easily.

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Housekeeping

Valley View Medical Center believes in the perseverance of our natural resources.  Therefore, bed linen is changed every other day or as needed more frequently depending on patient needs. If you need additional linens or housekeeping services, please contact your nurse.

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Interpreters and Translation Services

Interpreter services are available for patients. Please contact your nurse for assistance.

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Latex Allergies

In an effort to prevent or reduce exposure to known allergens, thereby reducing the risk of reaction, patients found to be allergic to latex will be treated with medical products which are free of latex or will be shielded from contact with latex. Valley View is primarily a latex-free facility, although some surgical procedures do involve latex products.  If you have a latex allergy and will be undergoing any inpatient or outpatient surgical procedures, including endoscopies, please advise both the admitting representative and your nurse about the allergy.

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Lost and Found

Please contact 928.788.7248 to reach Lost and Found.

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Mail

Mail and email sent to our website are delivered to patients Monday through Friday by hospital volunteers. Flowers may be delivered by individual florists, staff or volunteers. Fresh flowers are not allowed in critical care areas.

Mail received after discharge will be forwarded to the patient’s home. Outgoing mail may be taken to the nurses station or given to your attending nurse. Postage stamps are available in the gift shop.

Mail for patients should be addressed as follows: 

Patient Name 
Valley View Medical Center 
5330 South Highway 95
Fort Mohave, Arizona 86426-9225

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"Making A Difference" Program

"Making A Difference" cards are used to recognize employees and volunteers who “go the extra mile” for our customers, which include: Patients, Vendors, Visitors, Physicians, and co-workers. A card can be completed by anyone who wants to recognize what a Valley View member did to shine for them. "Making A Difference" cards are available just outside the Gift Shop. They are also included in yellow patient information packets provided to every admitted patient.

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Medicines

Please do not bring any prescription or over-the-counter medicines to the hospital. All medicines you take in the hospital need to be prescribed, filled and given to you by hospital staff. Tell your doctor about any medicines you regularly take. If you still need them, hospital staff will give them to you.

We will need a complete list of medicines you are currently taking, including those not prescribed or ordered by your doctor. While in the hospital, please take only medicines administered by your nurse. If the medicines are not given at the same time as you normally take them, please let us know and we will try to do things as you do at home. Sometimes meals or tests may hinder your normal routine.
 
We use generic medicines when possible to keep costs low. Because of this, some medicines may look different from your usual pills. If you have questions about the pills or other medicines you are taking, do not hesitate to ask your nurse or physician.

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Newspapers

Local newspapers are delivered daily to patient rooms.  Extra copies may be purchased from boxes outside the northwest doors of the Medical Offices at Valley View, the medical office building just to the north of the main hospital building.  Several news publications are also distributed free of charge in racks just inside the door to the main lobby.

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Parking

Parking available in the lot directly in front of the hospital. Drop off available in the circular driveway directly in front of the hospital. 

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Pastoral Care

If you would like a visit from the chaplain for spiritual care and comfort, please ask your nurse to contact the chaplain on call. Your loved ones also may fill out a request card in the chapel. A chaplain will address your concerns by the next business day after receiving the request. The chapel is always open for prayer and meditation. 

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Pediatric Care

For the safety of our pediatric patients, those under the age of 12, we may require an adult to stay with them at all times. Parents, physicians and nursing staff will jointly determine the need to have an adult in the room at all times for pediatric patients over age 12. If your child is under 2 years of age, we require the use of a baby bed for the safety of your child.

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Personal Belongings and Valuables

Personal care items such as contact lenses, eyeglasses, hearing aids and dentures can be stored in your bedside stand when not in use. Please do not put them on your bed or food tray to help avoid them being lost or damaged. Leave valuables like jewelry or cash at home, or give them to a trusted relative or friend to watch over. If this is not an option, valuables may be locked up by Security at your request. If you have valuables at the hospital please ask the nurse for a Special Valuable Envelope. Your valuables can be placed in the hospital safe, by the House Supervisor, once you have sealed them in the Special Valuables Envelope. The envelope must be filled out and signed by you or a responsible relative and your nurse. The content list will remain with your hospital chart and a copy of the list will be sealed inside the Valuables Envelope. Ask your Nurse about this hospital policy if you would like to use it. Valley View Medical Center cannot be responsible for replacing personal belongings.

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Public Restrooms

For everyone’s health and safety, we ask visitors not to use patient restrooms. Public restrooms are located throughout the hospital. Ask hospital staff to direct you to the nearest one.

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Rapid Response Team

You can call a critical-care response team to respond if your condition worsens and you do not get the immediate care you need. Dial 7146 to request this special service. Tell the operator: your name, room number, patient’s name and your concern.

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Smoking

Given the serious health hazards of tobacco use, we have chosen to become a 100 percent tobacco-free campus. No smoking or tobacco products will be used while on VVMC property, parking lots, associated buildings and vehicles. Patients and visitors are asked not to smoke during their hospital visit.

If You Smoke or Use Tobacco
While you are in the hospital, please do not suffer from nicotine withdrawal. You can receive nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or other appropriate support during your hospital visit. Please ask your nurse for more information.

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Telephone

Your friends and family can call your hospital room directly by dialing 928-788-7XXX where XXX is your 3 digit room number. For example, if you are in room 130, your room’s direct number is 928-788-7130.

To place a call out locally, dial 9 and then the number you wish to call. Long distance, credit card or collect calls may be placed by dialing "9" + area code and desired number. The hospital utilizes AT&T as its long distance company. If you wish to use a different company for credit card calls, dial your company's access code after dialing "9" + "0" or use the 800 number listed on your credit cards after dialing "9" + "1".

To reach your nurse, use the button on your call light.

Telephone Tips
Dialing the Hospital Operator from your room - Press "0"
Placing a local Call from your room - Press "9" then dial the number
Long Distance & Calling Card Calls from your room - Press "9" then "0"
To reach an Outside Operator from your room - Press "9" then "0"
Internal calls may be made by dialing the hospital's four-digit extension 

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TV

Each patient room has a television. Please be considerate of others by keeping the volume down and turning off your TV at bedtime. TVs are controlled by the bedside pillow speaker or side rail controls. Closed captioning is available for the hearing impaired. Ask a staff member if you have any questions on using your TV.

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Vending Machines

Here you can find beverages and snacks 24 hours a day. Located in the hospital cafeteria. 

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Visiting Hours

Visiting hours are subject to change. Please ask your nurse for official hours during your stay.

To promote healing and safety and limit infection, some units may limit the number of visitors you can receive at one time.

Visiting hours at Valley View Medical Center, including the Intensive Care Unit, are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times when visiting the hospital. In the Labor and Delivery Department, only siblings of the newborn under the age of 12 are allowed into the Childbirth Center. All other children must be over the age of 12 to enter the Childbirth Center Department.

Please use caution when bringing young visitors to the hospital. Do not allow children with cough, fever, rash, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or recent exposure to illness to visit.

During seasonal outbreaks of influenza and respiratory viruses, Valley View limits guests and visitors to those 16 and older. These restrictions will also apply to visitors who are the siblings of newborns and the children of patients. This is for the health and safety of our patients, our guests and the community.

For the convenience of your family and friends, Valley View Medical Center has various waiting rooms for Med/Surg, ICU, Labor and Delivery, Emergency and Surgery.

Due to the nature of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) visitation is determined on an individual basis. Valley View Medical Center traditionally practices an open policy. However, depending on the needs of the patient, visitation may be restricted.

Pet Visitation
Valley View Medical Center is committed to providing personalized care that recognizes the benefits of integrating traditional medicine with complimentary medicine as a supportive service. A patient must be deemed, by their physician, as appropriate to benefit from the visit of his/her dog. Only dogs that are certified to be medically fit shall be allowed to visit.  Please make sure that your nurse is advised ahead of time.

Heat kills pets in cars, especially here in the desert. If you are visiting someone at Valley View, please do NOT leave your pet unattended in a car.  Even with the windows cracked, car interiors can exceed 120F degrees in a matter of minutes.  Valley View personnel will call law enforcement and animal control officials to break into a car, if necessary, rescue the pet and cite the driver.

Visiting Overnight
Overnight visitation with a patient must be coordinated with the charge nurse and/or nurse manager and is only permitted under certain circumstances. If overnight visitation has been approved, you will be given a visitor card by the nurse, who will provide you with instructions for obtaining a visitor pass from the security guard. Please wear this badge and remain in the waiting room or the patient’s room at all times during your overnight visit. We reserve the right to revoke overnight privileges.

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What to Bring

You will need to bring a small number of personal items to the hospital, such as pajamas, robe, slippers, and personal toilet articles including cases for glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids and dentures. If you bring with you or any of the prior mentioned items are brought to you after your admission, please make sure your nurse is aware that you have them in your possession. These items are your responsibility to keep up with. Bring your driver’s license, insurance card, claim forms, and your co-pay and deductible amounts.

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What Not to Bring

Do not bring watches, jewelry, cash or other valuables to the hospital. Valley View Medical Center will only be responsible for these items if they are deposited into our safe. Ask your nurse about safe deposits upon admission. Please do not bring medications to the hospital. Your physician and the hospital pharmacy will provide all of your medication while you are in the hospital. However, it is important to provide your physician with a list of all medications that you are currently taking.

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Wifi

To access the free hospital wifi, connect to the “Guest_Access” network. Your device should prompt you to sign in to the network, and open a webpage where you can accept the terms of use. If you do not receive a prompt to accept, try to go to a webpage such as www.google.com. You should automatically be redirected to accept the terms and connect to the wifi. After accepting, you will be able to access the internet.

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