Your Stay in the Medical Center
If you have questions or concerns any time during your stay at the Medical Center, ask a member of your health care team. Your health care team consists of your licensed provider (physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner), nurse, social worker, dietitian, pharmacist and ward clerk. Health care teams may include other health professionals depending on the setting, such as addiction, vocational, recreation, occupational, and physical therapists. They can help you find just the right person to address your needs.
Tell the nurse if you have a living will or health care proxy. These documents will be added to your medical record to tell about your wishes.
Co-Payments
A co-payment is charged to veterans in Priority Groups 7 and 8 who are receiving inpatient or outpatient care and/or prescriptions. The inpatient co-payment is changed each year on January 1st. For current information on co-payment charges and priority groups, contact the Veterans Service Center in Buffalo on the first floor, E-Wing and in Batavia, building #1, first floor (clinic area) or refer to your Health Benefits Handbook.
Insurance
VA is required by law to recover the costs of providing medical treatment for non-service connected conditions from the veteran’s health insurance company. We will apply the payment from your insurance company to your co-payment first. You will be responsible for the rest of the copayment that your insurance company does not pay.
Medications
Please, do not bring medications from home. Instead, make a list. Tell the staff about all medications you are taking (prescribed and overthe- counter). Medications brought to the Medical Center will be sent home with your family or mailed to your home address after you are admitted. Otherwise, the medications can not be returned to you. Your doctor will order any medications you will need during your hospital stay and upon your discharge.
Exception: If you are taking part in a research project and are on special research medication, bring them to the hospital and tell the health care team.
Pain Management
We are committed to helping you get the best pain relief. Only you can describe your pain. You will be asked to rate the amount of pain you have on a “0 to 10” scale. Zero means no pain and ten describes the worst pain you could imagine having. For more information about pain control, talk with a member of your health care team.
Blood (Autologous)
If you are having surgery, ask your provider if you are eligible to donate your own blood for the procedure. If you qualify, the American Red Cross will contact you to schedule your appointment(s) for donation. An iron supplement will be prescribed to help in this donation process. The cost for the donation will be paid by VA. If you have any questions, contact the Transfusion Service in Buffalo at (716) 862-8932.
Clothing
All medical and surgical patients are expected to wear VA provided pajamas, robe and slippers or shoes. Patients on the Community Living Center Unit, and the Psychiatry Unit are permitted and encouraged to wear their personal clothing unless otherwise indicated. Wear the robe that you are given whenever you leave your room. All patients are asked to keep one set of clothing and footwear with them for discharge. We encourage you to label all your personal belongings.
Have the following personal items with you when you check in: toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving kit, deodorant and other toiletries, as needed.
Mail
Mail will be delivered to you on your unit. All mail received after you are discharged will be forwarded to your home address. Therefore, it is important to ensure that we have your current address. Mail sent to you while a patient should be addressed as follows:
VA Western New York
Healthcare System
(Your Full Name and Unit)
3495 Bailey Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14215
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or
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VA Western New York
Healthcare System
(Your Full Name and Unit)
222 Richmond Avenue
Batavia, NY 14020
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In Buffalo, U.S. postal stamps can be purchased by using the vending machine located in the dining hall near the Food Court in the basement.
In Batavia, patients can purchase stamps at the canteen on the ground floor, building 1.
Telephones
In Buffalo, most patient rooms have bedside phones. The bedside phone number is a four-digit number. To receive a call in your room, callers should dial (716) 862- then enter the four-digit number. To call out, dial “9” and the seven-digit number for local calls. If you want to call long-distance, dial “0” for VA operator assistance when making a collect call. To use a calling card, dial 9-1-800 and follow the directions on the card.
No bedside phones are available in the Psychiatry Unit or Intensive Care Unit. Callers should call the switchboard operator and ask for you by name and unit. Pay phones are located in the basement, main lobby and third floor in the core area.
In Batavia, a pay phone is located in the Primary Care Clinic.
Batavia bedside phones: To receive a call in your room, callers should call (585) 297-1000 and give the extension to the operator for connection or dial direct (585) 297- then enter the four-digit number.
Identification (ID)Wrist Bands
Upon admission, you will be given an ID wristband. Please wear your wristband at all times. Lost ID wristbands should be reported to your health care team right away.
Off-Unit Notification
All medical and surgical patients are expected to remain on the unit except for designated appointments ordered by your physician. You will need a physician order to leave the unit for any other reason. When you do leave unit please be sure to sign out on the unit clipboard. Remember to sign in when you return.
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