When you are admitted to NorthShore Regional Medical Center, you will need to present your doctor’s orders. If you are covered by a private insurance plan, you will need to bring your insurance cards and claim forms. If you are covered by Medicare or Medicaid, please bring your card with you at the time of admission.

We will be happy to file your health insurance claims for you. If you have not yet satisfied your deductible, we will ask that your deductible amount be paid in advance of your hospital stay.

If you have no hospitalization coverage of any kind, we ask that you make a pre-payment toward your hospital bill. Please call our Admitting Office to make any necessary pre-admission arrangements or if you have any questions.

During admission, information will be given to you about payment options. In some cases, patients have several medical treatment options from which to choose. Out-of-pocket expenses may differ depending upon the treatment you choose. Admitting personnel will explain the different financial implications of each choice.

You will also receive information on patient’s rights, advance directives, organ donation and Medicare. Patient rights and responsibilities are found in the patient handbook. After you have been admitted, you will be escorted either to your room or to the appropriate department, if testing is required. When you arrive on the nursing unit, our staff will help you get acquainted with your room and your surroundings.

The admitting office is open from 6:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. After hours, admissions are processed at the registration desk in the Emergency Room.

What to Bring

You may find that most of what you need during your stay is already here. You should bring only a few personal items, such as a nightgown, pajamas, robe, slippers, comb, toothbrush, and some reading material. Please leave personal appliances such as hair dryers, televisions, or nonbattery-operated radios at home.

Valuables

Please leave cash, credit cards, jewelry, and other valuable items at home. The hospital is not responsible for lost or stolen items. You are responsible for lost personal valuables. If you can’t send your valuables home for safe keeping, we suggest you place these important items in the hospital’s safe. Ask your caregiver about this service.

Comfort and Safety

Every effort is made to assign you to a room of your choice. We offer private and semi-private rooms. Our rooms are designed with your comfort and safety in mind. That includes your bed. The buttons on the upper side rails allow you to adjust your bed, call the staff, control the over bed lights and control your television set. All patient bathrooms have emergency call buttons.

Patient rooms have special electrical outlets for life saving equipment, if necessary. Color television with cable programming is featured in every room. Private rooms are furnished with a sleeper chair for anyone staying overnight.

There are several common things that you can do to make your stay go more smoothly. Wear your identification band. Use the “call” button on your bed to contact a staff member. Wear non-skid slippers and avoid wet floors. Before you get out of bed, please call a staff member if you need assistance.

Medications

We ask that you not bring any medications with you to the hospital. It is important, however, that you give your nurse or doctor a complete list of the medications you are taking. You doctor will prescribe the appropriate medications for you during your stay.

Mail and Flowers

Cards and flowers sent by your family and friends to make your stay more pleasant are brought to your room daily. If the hospital receives mail or flowers after you’re discharged they will be forwarded to your home

Smoking Policy

NorthShore Regional Medical Center is a smoke-free hospital. Because of our concern for the health of our patients, visitors, and staff, NorthShore Regional prohibits the use of smoking materials throughout the hospital. The policy complies with standards set by the Federal Clean Air Act and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Designated outside areas for smoking are the kiosk shelter between out the Emergency Department and the Outpatient Diagnostic Center.

Telephone System

Family and friends can dial directly to all patient rooms, except Intensive Care areas. Once you are admitted to your room, you can obtain your direct dial number by dialing “0".

Local calls are free. Just press “9" and dial the number. You are responsible for long distance calls. To make a long distance call, press “9", then “1", the area code and the number you are calling. The operator will ask you for your method of payment (collect or credit card), and will connect your call.

Additionally the hospital provides interpreters for non-English speaking patients. A sign language interpreter and Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) are also available for the hearing impaired. A patient representative or nurse will arrange this service for you.