St. Vincent Heart Center of Indiana - Indianapolis

The following sections will help you prepare for your hospital visit. You may be coming in for a procedure that will have you spending one or more nights, or you may be coming in for an outpatient (same-day) test or procedure. Either way, these helpful tips will help make your visit more comfortable.

Things to Discuss With Your Doctor

• Before you arrive, talk to your doctor about what you may or may not eat before coming to the hospital.
• Also, discuss which medications you should or should not take before your test or procedure.
• Before your procedure, you will be asked to sign a form indicating that you have followed your physician’s instructions. If you are the legal guardian for a minor child, you will be asked to sign the form for a patient under the age of 18.

Things to Bring With You

• Insurance card
• Copy of your advance directives
• List of any medicines you’re taking, and their doses; this includes over-the-counter medications or herbal supplements
• List of any allergies you have
• List of phone numbers of friends and family
• Notes or paperwork you received from your physician
• Photo identification, such as a drivers license
• Toiletries, including toothbrush and toothpaste, along with soap, lotion, or shampoo you prefer. (If you wear contact lenses, you may be asked to wear glasses while in the hospital.)
• Bathroom and slippers with rubber soles
• Clean underwear
• Pillow marked with your name
• Pen and paper for questions you might have or instructions you might receive
• A small amount of cash
• Paperback book, deck of cards, puzzles

Things to Leave at Home

• Watch and jewelry
• Cell phone or pager
• Large amounts of cash or credit cards
• Tobacco products and alcohol

Optional

• Some patients like to bring their own music on a CD, audio cassette or MP3 player and headphones. This is your choice. St. Vincent is not responsible for loss, theft or damage to your music player during your hospital visit.

We want you to feel comfortable while you are staying with us. Learn more about those who are available to help you during your stay.

Your Care Team

St. Vincent personnel wear ID badges that are white with black lettering and include the St. Vincent doves symbol, a photo of the employee, and the person's title and/or department. All of our associates have one goal in mind: to care for you, our patient, to bring about your recovery as thoroughly and as quickly as possible.

Our associates are highly trained and directed by the philosophy of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, which calls upon them to protect and promote the dignity and rights of each person as they participate in the healing ministry of Christ.

Physicians

Our physicians are members of the St. Vincent medical staff. Physicians consult with the nursing staff and possibly other medical personnel and are ultimately responsible for your medical care. If your doctor is in private practice, his/her services provided to you while in the hospital will be billed separately.

Nurses

Our St. Vincent nursing staff are at the center of your health care team and are committed to providing you with exceptional nursing care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Your nurses carry out your physician's orders for medical treatment and respond to your needs.

Use the nurse call system in your room to contact the nurses' station. Please feel free to ask your nurse if you have questions about your care at St. Vincent. A representative from hospital administration is also available upon request 24 hours a day by calling the hospital operator (0) from the phone in your room.

Residents/Interns/Students

St. Vincent plays an important role in educating physicians and specialists. As a teaching medical center, care may be given to you by resident chaplains, physicians, and medical or nursing students during your stay. St. Vincent provides advanced experience for graduate physicians who are pursuing specialty training.

Professionals in training are called residents and are always under supervision. A doctor may also be called an “intern” or “house physician.” Residents may participate in your care under the supervision of your own physician, who is the “attending physician.” The availability and thoughtful contributions of house physicians are considered a vital part of high-quality patient care.

Technologists and Other Experts

Along with nurses and physicians, your medical care rests in the hands of numerous health care specialists. These include technologists in radiology and other departments, medical technologists in the laboratory, physical and occupational therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, chaplains, social workers, and many others who are available upon your request.

Support Personnel

Numerous associates who are vital to the operation of St. Vincent Fishers, provide support to the doctors and nurses. These include administrators, unit managers, clerical workers, food and nutrition services personnel, housekeepers, maintenance workers, security officers, and others. Together, they support your caregivers and help make your stay at St. Vincent as pleasant as possible.

Volunteers

Over 1,000 volunteers regularly give their time at St. Vincent facilities, providing many services to enhance patient comfort. Volunteers deliver mail and flowers, work in the gift shop, provide assistance to patients and their families, and perform many other duties in nearly every hospital department. These volunteers in red shirts or jackets give an important gift to St. Vincent patients and visitors—their compassion, time, and service.

Concerns About Your Care

If you have concerns regarding the care you receive from any member of our care team or other concerns about your hospital stay, please contact one of the following associates:

• Unit/department director
• Practice facilitator
• Administrative representative

Compliments for Staff

St. Vincent recognizes outstanding job performance, conscientious service, cooperation with fellow associates, and adherence to the St. Vincent philosophy, mission, and values. Nomination forms for Service Excellence awards are available through your nurse.

Our case management social workers are here to help you or your loved ones find the services that may be needed after leaving the hospital. They will listen to your concerns and help create a plan to meet immediate and long-term needs.

They can help with referrals to such services as:

• Home health care
• Rehabilitation or extended care facilities
• Assisted living
• Financial assistance programs
• Other available resources

Whether you are currently healthy or facing a health challenge, it is important to consider what your wishes would be if you were unable to give direction to your medical caregivers because of unforeseen circumstances.

Make Sure Your Wishes Are Known

Regardless of the reason for your upcoming hospital stay, now is a good time to consider documenting your wishes so that family members will be confident making decisions on your behalf should it ever become necessary. Thinking about your preferences and discussing them with family and friends is important.

What is an Advance Directive?

Documents called advance directives will make your wishes known to your physician. These documents state your choices for health care or appoint someone to make those choices for you if you are unable to do so.

If you already have advance directives, please bring a copy with you to the hospital at the time of your admission.

The Patient Self-Determination Act went into effect on Dec. 1, 1991. This act requires hospitals, nursing facilities and other health care organizations to inform patients about advance directives by giving them written information at the time they are admitted.

If the patient has executed such a document, the signed document will then become a part of the patient's medical file for that admission only.

For years, fewer than 10 percent of all Americans had executed an advance directive. However, with the new law, both the young and old are encouraged to put their health care wishes in writing while they are still healthy and able to make these decisions.

Types of Advance Directives

Three types of advance directives can be prepared at St. Vincent Fishers Hospital. Call Pastoral Care at 317-338-2238 for assistance.

• Appointment of a health care representative, who makes medical treatment decisions for you when you are no longer able. This representative acts under the conditions spelled out in writing by you, and the document must be witnessed by another adult.
• A living will declaration tells physicians how much treatment you want to have should your condition be terminal and you are unable to communicate your wishes. With an emphasis on limiting treatment, the living will must be in writing, and there must be two adult witnesses.
• A life-prolonging procedures declaration tells health care providers that you want everything possible to be done to prolong your life, regardless of your terminal condition. It also must be in writing, and there must be two adult witnesses.

A fourth type of advance directive is also an option but cannot be prepared at St. Vincent. Many people consult an attorney for the preparation of this document:

• A durable power of attorney is another option allowed under Indiana law. This document identifies the person you wish to make health care decisions for you. Unlike the health care representative, who may only make health care decisions, the person to whom you have given power of attorney may also make personal and financial decisions for you. The decision-making power of this individual must be in writing and witnessed by a notary public.
• If you have questions or concerns regarding advance directives, we encourage you to talk with your physician and loved ones. Even if you have been admitted to St. Vincent previously, we will need a current copy of your advance directive. Situations and wishes change so the hospital cannot assume that advance directives are valid from one admission to another.

Need More Information?

If you need additional information about how to execute an advance directive, please call Pastoral Care at 317-338-2238. After business hours, please ask your nurse to page the hospital chaplain.