Safety & Security

Medications

Your physician and hospital pharmacy will supply all your medication while you are in the hospital. However, to ensure continuity of care, it will be necessary to bring all medications you take at home to the hospital. Once they have been reviewed by your physician and nurse, you may send your medication home with a family member or they can be sent to the pharmacy to be stored while you are in the hospital.

Getting In and Out of Bed

Your bed may be adjusted to provide upright or reclining positions. To help prevent accidents, please follow these guidelines:

• Never get in or out of bed by yourself unless you have been advised by your doctor or nurse to do so.
• Please ask your nurse for help if you need it.
• Please stay in your bed after you have prepared for sleep. Strange surroundings and sleep medications may cause you to injure yourself if you get out of bed. For help during the night, use your call button to contact the nursing staff.

Do not attempt to get in or out of a wheelchair by yourself. Please let your nurse assist you.

Restraints

Gordon Hospital strives for a restraint free environment that promotes and enhances the individual’s rights and dignity. Family or significant others provide valuable information regarding comfort and security measures for the guest. The best way to keep a guest out of a restraining device is to surround them with people they know and love. We encourage families to visit as often as they can, and provide diversional activities that have been known to calm the patient. Comfort measures are routine aspects of nursing care. These are situations in which restraints may be used:

• Prevention of harm to self and others
• Safe completion of therapies or treatments
• Promotion of personal safety of the patient due to severe confusion

The staff of Gordon Hospital attempts to utilize the least restrictive measures possible to maintain safety. In the event that a restraining device is considered necessary, a family member or significant other will be informed. The nurse may request that they assist in the de-escalation of anxiety and confusion by being present at the bedside. If the anxiety or confusion continues to present a safety concern, it may become necessary to implement a restraining device.

Each guest’s situation is viewed individually and restraining devices are removed as soon as safety risks are lessened. Guests are monitored and assessed frequently. Comfort measures are provided with position changes, fluids, toileting, food, and circulatory checks on a scheduled basis. If you have questions or concerns, please discuss them with your nurse.

Cellular Telephones

The use of cellular telephones, two-way radios, and pagers is limited to designated areas within the hospital: main lobby, cafeteria, Garden of Hope, medical office areas, and the hospital administrative office areas. Gordon Hospital reserves the right to request that any electronic device be turned off (hand-held PDA's, computer games, etc.)

Electrical Appliances

For the safety of all guests, we ask that you do not bring any electrical appliances such as stereos, hair dryers, personal computers, or VCRs to the hospital. They may interfere with the safe operation of important medical equipment. If you must use an electrical appliance, please ask your nurse to contact the Plant Operations Department to inspect it for safety.

ID Bracelet

Your ID bracelet states your name, hospital number, physician’s name, and other important information. It is necessary that you wear your bracelet at all times while you are a patient in the hospital.

Fire Alarms/Drills

Do not be disturbed if you hear an alarm. For your safety, we often check our fire alarm system and staff preparedness. We ask that you and your visitors remain in your room during these drills. If it becomes necessary to relocate guests, our staff will inform and assist you. Do not use the elevators during a fire drill.

Hospital Entrances

Access to the hospital is available through the Main entrance from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. and through the Emergency Center entrance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Safety Concerns

If you have concerns regarding safety within the organization we encourage you to notify us in one of the following ways:

• Contact your direct caregiver or the department director or
• Send your concerns to Gordon Hospital, Attn: Quality Management Director, 1035 Red Bud Road, P.O. Box 12938, Calhoun, GA, 30701