Pharmacy (outpatient prescriptions & over-the-counter medications): (203) 789-4076

Pulmonary Function Lab: (203) 789-4374

Radiology (scheduling interventional procedures): (203) 789-6272 or (203) 789-3124; press 1, then press 2

Scheduled Admissions Unit (procedures that will require you to stay overnight, as well as cardiac catheterizationprocedures): (203) 789-4321

Short-Term (Ambulatory) Surgery (procedures that allow you to go home the same day): (203) 789-3393

Helpful phone numbers

Admitting: (203) 789-3218 or (203) 789-3219

BillingPatient Accounts: (203) 789-3227Financial Assistance Program: (203) 789-5100

Digestive Disease Center (GI/gastroenterology procedures): (203) 789-3273

Main Hospital Number: (203) 789-3000

Patient Relations (for any type of assistance): (203) 789-3508

WELCOME TO SA INT RAPHAE L ’ SMission statementThe mission of the Saint Raphael Healthcare System, sponsored

by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, is to care for and

improve the health of our patients, with compassion and with a

special concern for the underserved, poor and elderly.

1450 CHAPEL STREET, NEW HAVEN, CT 06511 | SRHS.ORG

Welcome to Saint Raphael’s

Thank you for choosing the Hospital of Saint Raphael for your care. Our g

oal is to provide

you with the highest quality care in a respectful and compassionate enviro

nment.

Being a patient can be stressful or worrisome. We want to alleviate as muc

h of that as

possible. This packet was specifically prepared to help you get ready for y

our visit and

arrive at your procedure, treatment or testing area feeling comfortable and

confident.

It includes:

• Information and a checklist to help you get ready for your visit

• Directions to the Hospital and the specific area where you will be admitt

ed/cared for

• Information about free parking for your designated driver

• Additional information specific to the procedure, treatment or test you w

ill have

Our staff will work very hard to meet and exceed your expectations and Sain

t Raphael’s high

standards. If at any time – before, during or after your visit – you have a qu

estion, concern,

suggestion, or need any type of assistance, please let the manager in charg

e of your care

area or any of us know. Your feedback will help us do an even better job o

f caring for you.

On behalf of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth who have sponsored

Saint Raphael’s

for more than 100 years, as well as everyone in our healthcare system, tha

nk you again for

selecting Saint Raphael’s and for your trust in us. It is an honor and privil

ege to care for

you and all of our patients.

Sincerely,

Christopher O’Connor

President and Chief Executive Officer

Hospital of Saint Raphael and

Saint Raphael Healthcare System

Understanding your procedureYour doctor and/or members of his/her staff will explain your procedure

to you. Be sure to share any concerns or ask questions you may have about

preparing for the procedure, what to expect during the procedure and your

recovery. It’s important that you thoroughly understand what to expect as it

will help you emotionally and physically prepare for your Hospital visit, and

make any necessary arrangements for your post-hospital care.

You may also learn more about your procedure by using

Saint Raphael’s Emmi® online patient education library.

Emmi is an interactive, easy-to-use, computer-based

program designed to help patients prepare for upcoming

procedures or manage a chronic condition. It takes

complex information and makes it simple and

understandable. You may have questions that you don’t

think are important, or may have forgotten or were too

embarrassed to ask your physician. Emmi answers

frequently asked questions and you can view the

program in the comfort of your own home or

anywhere with Internet access. You can even share

Emmi with friends or family members.

Your doctor can provide information about accessing Emmi, or call Saint

Raphael’s Emmi information line at (203) 789-3863. Information about Emmi

can also be found on Saint Raphael’s website: www.srhs.org. Click on the

Emmi tab located on the navigation bar.

MedicationsAsk your doctor if you need to modify or change any of your medications

prior to the procedure/admission. This should include a discussion of

prescription and over-the-counter medications (including aspirin) you take

routinely and whether any adjustments should be made in the days prior

to or on the day of your procedure.

Eating, drinking or other r

Preparing for your visit toSaint Raphael’s

Also be sure your doctor explains

if you should modify your diet,

fast (go without eating or drinking

for a certain period of time), or

if there are other changes or

restrictions that you will need to

follow prior to your procedure.

In many instances, not following

these instructions can lead to

cancellation of your procedure.

Special needsIf you or the person(s) who will

be accompanying you to the

Hospital have any special needs,

particularly that may impact care,

please let us know by contacting

our Patient Relations Department,

(203) 789-3508. This may include

special equipment, assistance

or consideration for persons

with physical, mental or other

limitations, persons in need of

translation services, or who are

deaf or hard of hearing. By

sharing this information with us

now, it will be one less thing for

you to think about.

What to bring with youRegardless of your type of

procedure, please bring:

• Your photo ID. If you do not

have a photo ID, please bring

two other forms of identification.

• Your insurance card and co-pay,

if applicable.

• A list of all prescriptions and

over-the-counter medications

you take, including the dose

and frequency. In the front

pocket of this booklet, we’ve

enclosed a “Medication card”

that may be useful for this

purpose.

Please leave jewelry (including

engagement rings and wedding

bands), cash and credit cards,

contact lenses, and other

valuables at home as we cannot

be responsible for these items.

General consent formPlease review the copy of Saint

Raphael’s general “consent to

treat” form in the back pocket of

this packet. It’s important that

you understand this form. If you

have any questions, please call

the Patient Relations Department

at (203) 789-3508. This form

describes standard Hospital

policies, such as the sharing of

your medical information with

appropriate parties, your

responsibility for your personal

property while at Saint Raphael’s,

and Saint Raphael’s role as a

teaching hospital. Please do not

sign this form at home. Upon

your arrival at Saint Raphael’s, a

representative from our Admitting

Office will provide a final copy,

which he/she will review with

you and ask you to sign in his/her

presence. You will then be given

a copy of the signed document

for your personal records.

Informed consentIf you are having an operation

or other procedure, you may be

asked to sign a form known as

“informed consent.” This consent

is specific to the procedure you will

be having and is in addition to the

general consent form, which you

will sign prior to or on admission

to the Hospital.

The informed consent

will be completed prior to

your procedure in either

your physician’s office or at the

Hospital. The most important

goal of the informed consent is

that you, the patient, have an

opportunity to be an informed

consumer in your healthcare

decisions. Your physician will

have a conversation with you

regarding your procedure,

including:

• the reason the procedure is

being done

• the nature of the procedure

• alternatives to the procedure

• the risks and benefits of the

procedure

Your signature on the informed

consent form indicates that you

understand the information

provided. If you have any questions

regarding the procedure you are

scheduled for, please let our staff

know once you arrive at the

Hospital and we will work with

your healthcare team to ensure

all of your questions have been

answered.

Advance directiveYou have the right to make

decisions about the medical care

you receive, and whether or not

you want certain treatments.

You also have the right to receive

information from your physician

that will assist you in your decision-

making about medical care.

An advance directive is a legal

document that you may complete

to express and clarify your wishes

pertaining to your healthcare and

end-of-life issues. Your physicians

and other healthcare professionals

will refer to your advance directive

if you become unable to make or

communicate decisions about

your medical treatment.

In Connecticut, advance directives

include:

• the living will and healthcare

instructions

• the appointment of a healthcare

representative

You do not have to complete

an advance directive in order

to receive medical care or be

admitted to a hospital or other

healthcare facility. However, the

advance directive allows you to

convey your wishes about your

care to your family, friends and

healthcare professionals and to

avoid confusion later on.

If you have an advance directive,

please bring a copy with you on

the day of your admission and it

will be placed in your medical

record. If you do not have an

advance directive and would like

to create one, please contact our

Patient Relations Department,

(203) 789-3508. A staff member

will explain how this can be done.

Designated driverIf your procedure will require you to be sedated, you will need to have someone

bring you to the Hospital on the day of your procedure and drive you home

following discharge. Please see the procedure-specific insert in the front pocket

of this booklet, which will confirm if this applies to you.

Directions to the HospitalFor your convenience, directions are located on your procedure-specific insert

found in the front pocket of this booklet.

Parking and directions to your specific care area

Your procedure-specific insert will also provide information

about the most convenient place to park, based on where

you will receive care at Saint Raphael’s, as well as directions

to get to your care area.

Getting to the Hospital of Saint Raphael

Confirming the date, time and place of your procedure/ admissionPlease see the sheet with specific information in the front pocket

of this booklet. Generally, one of our staff members will contact

you prior to your scheduled procedure.

Once you get hereOur staff will welcome you and anyone who may accompany you. We

will review additional paperwork, including the consent forms referenced

earlier, with you. If you will be going home the same day, we will discuss

discharge instructions with you before you leave to be sure they are clear.

If you are staying at Saint Raphael’s for one or more nights, you will receive

a booklet when you get to your room with information about what to

expect on that nursing unit and what we will do to make sure you are

as comfortable as possible.

Family members or friends who

accompany you will find lounges

in many of our care areas. They may

also want to relax in our central lobby

or visit our cafeteria, ZuZu coffee bar,

gift shop, or chapel. We also have a

retail pharmacy that can be used to

pick up any prescriptions on the

way home or to purchase over-the-

counter medications. It is located on

the first floor adjacent to the cafeteria

and is open Monday, Wednesday,

and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.;

Tuesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. –

5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m. –

1:00 p.m.; closed Sunday. The back

pocket of this booklet includes a map

of our campus, which may be useful

to your loved ones.

If your family members or friends

have questions or need assistance,

please encourage them to speak with

any member of our staff. We want to

take good care of your guests too!

Checklist to help plan and prepare for your procedure/admission

Questions to ask at the time your procedure/admission is scheduled

_____ Do I understand the procedure I am having?

_____ Do I need preadmission tests?

_____ Have I reviewed and do I understand instructions my doctor has provided about:

• Any needed medication changes or modifications (prescriptions and over-the-counter medications) prior to the procedure/admission?

• Any dietary changes, fasting, or other restrictions?

_____ Have I reviewed and do I understand Saint Raphael’s “consent to treat” form (back pocket of this booklet)?

_____ Has my procedure been authorized by my insurance company (if applicable), do I have a co-pay and how will I pay it?

Questions to ask during the week leading up to your procedure/admission

_____ Are any required preadmission tests scheduled or complete?

_____ Have I made any accommodations that may be necessary once I am home? Depending on the procedure, this may include such things as following a special diet for a few days, having a shower chair to help with bathing, or planning ahead to minimize using stairs. It will be less stressful for you to make the necessary arrangements now.

_____ Have I made arrangements for someone to drive me to and from the Hospital? Have I let the Hospital know if that person or I have special needs?

_____ If I need to have someone with me after I am discharged, have I made arrangements for that?

_____ Have I contacted my doctor if I’ve had any signs of illness (fever, cold, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) in the days before my procedure?

Questions to consider the day before your procedure/admission

_____ Did I get my phone call from the Hospital? Are the arrival time and the location of my procedure/ admission area clear?

_____ Am I clear on my pre-procedure/admission instructions and what I may need to do over the next 24 hours, such as medication changes or fasting?

_____ Do I have what I need to bring to Saint Raphael’s, including:

• My photo ID or two other forms of identification? • My insurance card and co-pay, if applicable? • My list of all prescriptions and over-the-counter

medications, including their dose and frequency (form in the front pocket of this booklet)?

• Loose, comfortable or easy-to-put-on clothes (including flat, rubber-soled shoes) to make it easier to dress when it’s time to go home?

_____ If I have signs of illness (fever, cold, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.), have I called the doctor who will be performing my procedure/surgery?