Bedside Assistance
After arriving in your room, a staff member will show you how to operate the bed controls, use the bed rails, and the locations of the call button. Do not hesitate to use the call button at your bedside or in the bathroom if you need assistance.
Driver’s License & Insurance Cards
When you arrive at the hospital, the Admitting staff needs to make copies of your driver’s license and insurance cards. If this was not done, please ask a family member or visitor to take your cards to the Admitting Department. Your cards will be copied and returned to you promptly.
Identification Band
An identification band is placed on your wrist when you are admitted. It is important to keep this banc on your wrist throughout your hospital stay.
Living Wills/Advanced Directives
Many people today are worried about the medical care they would receive if they should become terminally ill or unable to communicate. You may want to think about preparing an advance directive. Information and forms about Michigan’s Durable Power of Attorney and health care agent designation are available through Admitting and Pastoral Care.
Medications
All medications taken while you are in the hospital must be prescribed by your physician, dispensed by the hospital’s pharmacy, and administered by a nurse. Patients are not permitted to administer their own drugs or to keep personal medications at their bedside. This is to ensure that your physician coordinates all medications given during your hospital stay.
Personal Articles/Valuables
When not in use, dentures, eyeglasses and hearing aids should be placed in containers with your name clearly marked on them. If you do not have a container, please let your nurse know. Covenant is not responsible for lost or stolen items. We ask that valuables, such as cash or jewelry, be left at home. If you have valuables with you and do not want to send them home with a relative or visitor, please call the Admitting Department. We will place your items in a hospital safe and give you a receipt. This receipt needs to be presented to pick up your items before you go home.
Personal Devices
- If you bring a personal electrical device (such as a radio, shaver, hair dryer, etc.), please be sure that it is checked by our Biomedical Department to ensure it is in good working condition and will not create an electrical or fire hazard.
- Do not bring an electrical fan because it could spread germs to you or to other patients.
- Cellular phones must not be used in the hospital as they may interfere with sensitive electronic equipment that is used to care for patients.
Releasing of Patient Information
In order to respect privacy and confidentiality, all patient are assigned their own PIN (Personal Information Number), which at Covenant also stands for “Privacy is Necessary.” Upon admission, you will be given your own unique 4-digit number. You may give this PIN number to any of your relatives or to anyone else you would like apprised of your condition. Patient information will then be released only to those authorized specifically by you.
Calling Your Nurse
To call your nurse, press the call button near your bed, or pull the call bell cord in the bathroom. A nurse will either come to your room or speak to you over the intercom in your room.
Environmental Services
We are eager to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Rooms are cleaned each day. This includes cleaning the bathroom, removing trash, mopping the floor, dusting, and making sure that the room is sanitary. Bed linens are changed when soiled. If you need to have your bed linens straightened or changed, please inform your nurse.
Hospital Bed
Your bed is equipped with siderails for your safety. If you need to get out of bed when the siderails are up, it is important that you ask a nurse for help. Your bed can also be adjusted for your comfort. To raise or lower your bed, please use the controls on the siderails.
Leaving the Unit
Please do not leave your unit except under the supervision of a member of the hospital staff. It is important for you to be on the unit when your physician visits, or when it is time for your to receive treatment.
Room
Your room has been carefully chosen for you based on the type of medical care you will need and the appropriate nursing unit that can provide that care for you. If you would prefer a private room, every effort will be made to obtain one for you, based on availability. If you would like to move to a different room for any reason, ask your nurse.
Room Service/Meals
Food items may be ordered from the room service menu from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm with the exception of dinner items, which are available from 4 pm to 9 pm only. You may use the one-touch Room Service Button or dial extension 3.6054. Your guests are welcome to join you at meal time and may order from the take-out menu. Guest meal charges are not covered by your hospitalization insurance and must be paid for when the food is delivered.
Room Temperature
If your room is too hot or too cold, please inform your nurse or the person who cleans your room.
Smoking
Smoking and other use of tobacco or tobacco products is prohibited in all Covenant HealthCare owned or leased buildings. Covenant is dedicated to healing and promotion of health. Smoking is permitted in designated smoking areas ONLY. Please check with the front desk for locations.
Available Courtesy Services
Banking Machines
Automated teller machines (ATM) are located on the first floor of the Cooper and Harrison campuses for your convenience.
Cafeteria
Cafeterias are located on the first floor at Cooper and Harrison campuses. Vending machines are available 24 hours a day. Hot meals are served daily during the following times:
- Cooper Campus
Breakfast 6:00 am – 10:00 am
Lunch 10:45 am – 2:00 pm
Dinner 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Evenings 1:00 am – 3:00 am
- Harrison Campus
Breakfast 6:00 am – 9:30 am
Lunch 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Dinner 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Evenings 1:00 am – 3:00 am
- Coffee Shop
7:00 am – 3:00 pm Weekdays
Flowers
Flowers sent to you will be delivered to your room unless you are in a specialty unit where flowers are not permitted (such as our Neonatal Unit, Intensive Care Units or Coronary Care Units).
Gift Shops Covenant gift shops are conveniently located near the front lobbies at Cooper and Harrison. An exquisite variety of gifts and clothing unique to each location as well as lines such as Yankee Candle, Camille Beckman and Midwest can be found there. The gift shops also carry greeting cards, sundries, candy, fresh and silk flower arrangements, Mylar balloons and more. For more information, call the gift shops at 583.6035 for Cooper campus, or 583.4560 for Harrison campus.
Hospital Hospitality House
Saginaw’s Hospital Hospitality House (HHH) is a “home away from home” for out of town families and patients receiving medical treatment in the hospital. HHH offers sleeping rooms, kitchen and laundry facilities, family visiting areas, and a relaxing patio and garden area. Guests are not charged a fee to use HHH; however donations are welcome. Arrangements are made for guests to stay at the HHH through the social worker, case coordinator, physician, or nurse. For more information please call the Hospital Hospitality House at 989.583.0155.
Interpreters
Covenant HealthCare offers an interpreter service for patients who speak a foreign language or use sign language. For assistance, please contact the Admitting Department.
Lost & Found
If you lose something, notify your nurse immediately and every effort will be made to help you find it. To inquire about lost items, call the Lost and Found Hotline at extension 583.4840.
Mail
Mail addressed to you will be delivered to your room. Mail received after you have been discharged will be forwarded to your home address.
Notary Public
Notary public services are available 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. If you need these services, ask your nurse to contact a nurse manager or administrative coordinator for assistance.
Parking/Valet Parking
Patient and visitor parking is available near the main entrances. Security officers are available to park your car if needed, locate handicapped parking for those with permits, and help with directions. Ask the front desk staff to call Security for you. Please be sure to lock your car. If you need assistance from our facility to your car, please ask a Covenant employee.
Pastoral Care Services
Covenant HealthCare believes that total patient care demands attention to the spiritual as well as the physical and emotional needs of each patient. Members of the Pastoral Care staff are in the hospital 24 hours a day and are available to assist you, whatever your religious tradition. Their staff includes chaplains who have specialized training for hospital ministry. Your priest, minister or rabbi is always welcome to visit you while you are here. If you wish to see a chaplain, receive Holy Communion or the Sacrament of the Sick (for Roman Catholic patients), please push the CHAPLAIN button on your phone, call your nurse, or dial “0” for the hospital operator and have the chaplain paged. A chapel is located off the front lobby of the Cooper campus, and its doors are always open. Services are held seasonally and times are announced. A meditation room is available off the front lobby of the Harrison campus. For further information, call Pastoral Care Services at 583.6042.
Pharmacy
Prescriptions you receive from your physician can be filled in the outpatient pharmacy located near the lobby of the Cooper campus. The outpatient pharmacy is open from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and 9:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturday.
Security
Security officers are available 24 hours a day for the safety and security of patients, visitors, and employees. Security officers are present in all areas of the hospital and patrolling outside in white vehicles with green flashing lights. To report any incidents, call Security Dispatch at extension 3.6149 immediately and inform your nurse.
Customer Service
Covenant HealthCare is committed to providing excellent service to our patients. To maintain that commitment, we have Customer Service Representatives available to you Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 4:30 pm. If you would like to speak with a Customer Service Representative, call 583.4190 or 583.4463. A confidential survey will be sent to your home three to four days after you have been discharged from the hospital. Please complete and return in the postage paid envelope provided. Each survey is read and processed individually and your comments are greatly appreciated. If you have any questions about the survey, please call Customer Service.
