Patient Care & Resources

Upon entering St. Joe's, a nonemergency patient will be admitted to the hospital at patient registration, which is located near the north entrance on the first floor. To be admitted, both medical history and personal information about the patient will be confidentially recorded for the use of the medical staff only. Patients also must sign a document acknowledging informed consent regarding procedures for their care.

We will need a complete list of medicines you are currently taking, including those not prescribed or ordered by your doctor. While in the hospital, please take only medicines administered by your nurse. If the medicines are not given at the same time as you normally take them, please let us know and we will try to do things as you do at home. Sometimes meals or tests may hinder your normal routine.

We use generic medicines when possible to keep costs low. Because of this, some medicines may look different from your usual pills. If you have questions about the pills or other medicines you are taking, do not hesitate to ask your nurse or physician.

Patients should bring appropriate insurance forms or identification cards at the time of admission. Patients also should bring a few toiletry and personal items. Newborn babies will also need clothing and a car seat for their trip home. The medical center will provide all other necessary articles for your care. We encourage you to only bring minimal personal belongings with you.

Do not bring watches, jewelry, cash or other valuables to the hospital. St. Joseph Regional Medical Center may only be held responsible for these items if they are deposited into our safe. Ask your nurse about safe deposits upon admission. Please do not bring your medications to the hospital. Your physician and the hospital pharmacy will provide all of your medication while you are staying in the hospital. However, it is important to provide your physician with a list of all medications you are currently taking.

When you are medically ready to leave the hospital, your physician will write a discharge order on your medical chart. Your nurses and your physician will discuss discharge information with you, including special diets, medications and limitations on your activities. The case manager will assist you in making arrangements for home care or other community services, if needed. Your physician will let you know if an office visit is necessary after discharge.

Be sure to check your room for all personal belongings and reclaim any valuables from the hospital safe. When your transportation arrives, please allow your nurse to escort you from the hospital.

Get advance care planning. A healthcare power of attorney (also known as a proxy, agent, or surrogate) designates someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. A living will outlines your preferences for medical treatments at the end of life, specifying what you would or would not want. The durable power of attorney for healthcare is a specific type of this designation that remains effective if you become incapacitated. Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) are medical directives used for seriously ill patients to document their treatment preferences, such as resuscitation or hospitalization. Life-sustaining treatments, which include interventions like ventilators or feeding tubes, are typically addressed in these documents to ensure your wishes are followed.