Your surgeon or one of our hospitalists will oversee your medical care during your hospitalization. This includes establishing diagnoses, developing a treatment plan, and evaluating your response to the plan. Your physician might order other diagnostic testing which may include, but is not limited to, laboratory, radiology, respiratory, rehabilitation or EKG services. Please feel free to ask questions about any aspect of your care. We suggest you write down your questions for your doctors so that you don’t forget to ask about things that are important to you.

At the time of hospitalization, the hospitalist will identify himself or herself to you as the physician responsible for your care, treatment and services during hospitalization. Upon discharge, the hospitalist will provide your primary care physician (PCP) with important information regarding your care, along with your discharge summary.

If you do not have a primary care physician, our case management and social services team can provide you with a list of PCPs who are currently accepting new patients.

Identification Bands

You will have an identification band placed on your wrist upon your hospitalization. At that time, our staff will ask you to verify that your name, date of birth and gender are accurately recorded. Our staff will check your identification band before giving you medication, drawing blood or before any procedure.

Accommodations

You will be assigned a room based on medical and nursing assessments of your needs. You are responsible for being considerate and respectful of other patients and Hospital staff members.

Smoking

For the health and safety of our patients and staff, BID Needham provides a smoke-free environment. Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the hospital or on hospital property. Patients will not be permitted to leave the nursing unit to go outside and smoke. Please let your physician or nurse know if you are a smoker and you want to quit. We can help.