Patient Information

For many, visiting a hospital can be a new and different experience that can cause fear, anxiety, stress, and grief. For patients, it can be even more unnerving with having to weigh treatment options, stay overnight, or prepare for surgery. At Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall, we work tirelessly to achieve high levels of quality care and a quiet healing environment. Patient satisfaction is our priority. We believe everyone has a role in making health care safe. Please consult our Patient Safety Guide and general Patient Guide for more information.

Your Admission

Your admission to Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall was requested by your physician, who is a member of our medical staff. You have been asked many questions by our Healthcare Access Management personnel. The Healthcare Access Management staff will require you to provide personal and insurance information necessary for hospital medical and legal records. That information will be kept on file in our Health Information Management Department for future reference in follow-up care. (To learn more, read Notice of Privacy Practices or Aviso de Practicas del Aislamiento.)

Accommodations

Every effort will be made to provide the type of accommodation you request. At times, however, this may not be possible. Also, it may become necessary to move you to a new room. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, and thank you in advance for your understanding.

Safety

Your safety, as well as your comfort, are of major importance to us. For this reason, we ask for your cooperation with the following items:

Personal electrical items such as radios, tape players, cellular phones and television may not be used within the hospital since they can cause electrical interference with medical equipment.
Personal hygiene items such as electric shavers, curlers, and hair dryers must be checked by our staff before use. This policy is in accordance with New York state law and the regulations of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals - an agency of which Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall is a member. Your nurse will see that all such items are inspected and approved by the Engineering Department before they are returned to you.
Your hospital bed is designed for comfort, as much as it is for protection. Should you need assistance with bed positioning, side-rails, or getting in and out of bed, please notify your nurse.

Smoking

In order to comply with the New York state Anti-Smoking Law and to provide a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff, smoking is prohibited in the hospital, and on the hospital grounds.

Fire Drills

Fire drills are conducted regularly at Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall to provide staff with opportunities to maintain a high degree of efficiency. Patients and their visitors do not usually participate in fire drills. However, during a drill alarm bells sound and fire doors are closed. During night drills, overhead lights come on. Please remain calm during a fire drill, and stay in your room unless requested to do otherwise.

Interpreter Service

Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall offers translation services for our patients who speak a foreign language. Where a patient has a limited ability to comprehend and speak the English language, the staff will contact the translator to interpret. When non-medical information needs interpreting a list of staff members who speak foreign languages is available. Professional sign language services are available for those requiring this service.

Medications & Food from Home

Medications and food brought from home should not be used without your doctor's order because they may not be compatible with the medications used in your hospital treatment. The medications you require during your stay will be ordered by your doctor and supplied by the hospital pharmacy. If necessary, a medication brought from home can be used provided the doctor orders it to be used, it is unavailable from the hospital pharmacy, and it is approved for use during your hospitalization by the hospital pharmacist.

Valuables

We strongly urge you to send all your valuables (other than the money you will need for TV rental) home. This includes your jewelry, large sums of money, credit cards, expensive clothes, and other valuables including your medications. If, however, you had such items with you at the time of admission and could not send them home, contact our Security Department to secure them for you.

Dentures & Eyeglasses

Dentures should never be wrapped in tissue or left on a food tray. Ask your nurse for a special container in which to store them. Keep the container in the drawer of your bedside cabinet. The hospital cannot be held responsible for their loss or breakage. Please use similar precautions for eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Your Meals

Your meals are planned by our Nutritional Care Team, based on the diet, ordered by your physician. On the day of your admission, you will receive pre-selected meals and a menu selector for the next day. This menu selector will be picked up by a member of the Nutritional Care Team. If you need help with your meal, call your nurse. Food service workers are not allowed to assist patients with their meals. Our dietitians will be happy to answer questions about your diet or to help you select your menu.

Your Spiritual Care

Clergy of all faiths participate in the spiritual care of our patients. Priests, ministers, and rabbis visit the hospital and are available to visit you. Within the first 24-48 hours of your visit a Patient Relation's Volunteer will visit you, he or she will be happy to contact your church or synagogue on your behalf to request a visit or prayers. Your nurse can also assist if you do not wish to wait for the Patient Relations visit. In addition, a chapel is available on the first floor of the Newburgh Campus.

Getting Around

If you leave your room, even for a short time, please tell the Nursing staff. It is important for them to know where you are at all times. Please do not get into or out of a wheelchair on your own. To avoid injury, please ask for help.

Patient Relations Department (845) 568-2300

The Patient Relations Department is available to assist you or your family with your concerns, problems or special needs that are related to your hospital stay. In addition, the Department is available to discuss and assist you with the Patient Bill of Rights and Health Care Proxy.

Questions or Concerns Regarding Your Hospital Care

Should you have a concern about patient care or safety at MSLC, please contact a member of our management team in order to discuss your concern. If it cannot be resolved by the hospital staff or management team, you may contact the Joint Commission via the following methods:

Visit on the web at www.jointcommission.org , using the “Report a Patient Safety Concern” link on the home page of the website.
By mail to The Office of Quality and Patient Safety (OQPS), The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181.

You may contact the New York State Department of Health by mail or by phone. The toll free number is (800) 804-5447 or you may file a complaint in writing and send it to:

New York State Department of Health
Centralized Hospital Intake Program
Mailstop: CA/DCS
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12237

Medical Ethical Concerns

The Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Medical Ethics Committee is available to all patients, family members, physicians or hospital staff. This committee has an advisory role in resolving medical ethical conflicts. Patients and their families may request the services of the Committee through the patient's attending physician or through the hospital's Patient Relations Department at extension 2300.

Patient Responsibilities

The patient has the responsibility to:

Provide, to the best of his/her knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his/her health. The patient has the responsibility to report unexpected changes in his/her condition to the responsible practitioner. A patient is responsible for making it known whether he/she clearly comprehends a contemplated course of action and what is expected of him/her.
Communicate and describe severity of pain. Report any new or unrelieved pain. Collaborate with physician and the other members of your healthcare team regarding changes in pain relief regimen (drug, dose, frequency, and route). Inform staff when pain has been relieved.
Follow the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for his/her care. This may include following the instructions of nurses and Allied Health personnel as they carry out the coordinated plan of care and implement the responsible practitioner's orders, and as they enforce the applicable hospital rules and regulations. The patient is responsible for keeping appointments and, when he/she is unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the responsible practitioner or the hospital.
His/her own actions if he/she refuses treatment or does not follow the practitioner's instructions.
Assure that the financial obligations of his/her healthcare are fulfilled as promptly as possible
Follow the hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and comfort
Be considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel, and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking and the number of visitors. The patient is responsible for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital.

Understand that Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall shall not be liable or responsible for the loss or damage to any articles or personal property. This includes glasses and dentures, retained by the patient in his/her room and that items having a monetary value, unless placed by the patient for safekeeping at the time of admission, in facilities provided without charge by Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall, shall remain the patient's obligation and responsibility.

If you have questions, concerns, or comments that you would like to share with Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall CEO, please leave a message on the CEO Hotline, 458-4599. You will receive a response within 48 hours.