Patients

Yes, all of your current medications will need to be brought with you to the hosptial for identification and then sent home. Your doctor will decide which medications you should continue while hospitalized and our pharmacy will supply you with all of your medications. All medications brought into the hospital will be sent home with a relative or a friend. If that is not possible, the medications will be placed in storage in the hospital pharmacy until you are discharged.

As part of our commitment to protect patient confidentiality, each patietn is assigned a unique Patient ID number that a family member or friend must reference in order to obtain any information regarding your care. Upon admission you will be given the Patient ID Number along with a direct dial room number to your room so that family members may contact you directly. *The patient must give family members or loved ones the Patient ID number in order for them to have access to information. ONLY the patient can release that information.

Please bring any medical insurance cards and any necessary claims forms. This will speed the admissions process. Also you can go to the Med Key regristration program online found under the patients section to speed up the process.

Hospital gowns are available, but you may bring your own dressing robe and slippers. We encourage you to bring your own toiletries from home. Personal belongings such as jewelry, cash, credit cards or items of great personal value should not be kept in your room. . If you are having surgery, you will not be allowed to wear jewelry during the operation. If you brought any items of value to the hospital with you, we urge you to send them home with a relative or friend. Valuables such as credit cards, money or jewelry can be locked in a safe by notifying your nurse. Please store eyeglasses, contact lenses and dentures in the appropriate protective covers. Though we will assist whenever possible, Lehigh regional medical Center will not be responsible for loss or damage of any personal property in the hospital or on hospital property. Please note that when you are discharged from the hospital, you may need your credit cards, checks or cash to take care of your bill. If so, please ask a friend or family member to bring them from home at that time.

Please bring a list of your medications and dosages. Your physician will evaluate which ones you should continue taking while in the hospital. These will be dispensed to you by the hospital pharmacy during your stay. Any medications brought from home will be sent to the pharmacy. This procedure ensures that the medications you are currently taking do not interfere or interact with new medications ordered for you during your stay, and prevents the loss of your medications from home.

Your physician has prescribed a diet plan especially for you. You may be on a special or a "restricted" diet. Additionally, before certain tests and procedures, you may not be allowed to eat or drink for a period of time. Unless you are on a liquid or pureed diet, you will receive a meny on your breakfast tray each morning from which to select your meals for the next day. You can also speak to the diet office. Additionally, if you would like to talk to a dietitian, let your nurse know. Meal trays are delivered at the following approximate time unless otherwise ordered by the physician: Breakfast-8 a.m. Lunch 12 noon Dinner 5 p.m. The cafeteria at Lehigh Regional Medical Center is located on the first floor. Regular cafeteria hours are: Breakfast 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. In addition, cofee and soda are available during visiting hours to family members of patients in the emergency department or in surgery. Vending machines with sandwiches, snacks, sweets, milk and soft drinks are accessible 24 hours a day/seven days a week in the cafeteria.

Immediate family member and significant others may visit in the intensive care unit. However, we understand that on occasion a good friend may be as important to the patient and will be allowed to visit. Sometimes the patient/family may want to restrict visits during the first few days of hospitalization.

Only children 14 and over should visit; Because it can be frightening for small children to asee a loved one in the Progessive Care Unit, we must prepare them in advance. We give them counseling and age-appropriate information before and after a visit to the Progressive Care Unit. Children must be accompanied by an adult in the Progressive Care Unit and in waiting rooms. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to visit patients in any unit.

Two family members may visit at a time, depending on the patient's condition. Please respect the nurse's judgment, but feel free to discuss with him or her if this poses a problem for the family.

General visiting hours for the hospital are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Visitors are permitted after 8 p.m. with the permission of the House Nursing Supervisor. Two immediate family members/significant others may visit at a time. Visiting hours may be adjusted at the discretion of the Charge Nurse or Primary Nurse according to the patient's condition. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to visit patients in any unit (in the ICU children must be 14 years or older to visit patients).