INFORMATION BOOK
for Hospitalized Patients and their Family
ADMISSION:
The Admitting Department is located on the Ground Floor of the Hospital. Upon your
arrival, the staff will help you to complete your admission. Should you be transferred to
one of the floors following treatment in our Emergency Department, a member of our
Admitting Department will go to see you in your room. If your admission has been scheduled
in advance, you will be called to confirm the date and time of your admission.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
Please bring with you the following documents:
Residents of Quebec:
- Medicare Card
- St. Mary's Hospital Card
- Hospitalization Insurance Documents
Canadians out of Province:
- Medicare Card
- Hospitalization Insurance Documents
Non Residents:
- Citizenship Card, Passport or any other document given to you by the Department of Immigration
FORMS TO SIGN:
Upon admission, you will be asked to sign two forms:
- General Consent Form: A general consent form for examinations and treatments.
- Room Accommodation Form: Hospital rooms can have 1, 2, 3 or 4 beds. Please note that a daily rate applies for all semi-private and private rooms and when you sign for this type of room, you accept the financial responsibility. When you are admitted, you will be given the first available bed and may then be transferred to a unit that is more suitable for your particular illness. Wherever possible, we will respect your choice of either a private or semi-private room and you will be transferred as soon as that type of room becomes available.
HOSPITAL CHARGES:
Medical Services/Hospitalization
Quebec Residents:
Medical services can be provided only upon presentation of a valid Medicare Card. Please
make sure that you bring your Medicare Card with you.
Non Quebec Residents:
Hospitalization expenses are covered for residents of other Canadian Provinces provided
they present a valid Medicare Card from their province.
Non Residents:
Patients from any other country are responsible for all hospitalization expenses, visits
to clinics and to the emergency department. A deposit for (3) days is required prior to
admission. You will be billed separately for the fees of the Emergency Room doctor, the
anaesthetist and the surgeon, should you require surgery.
Room Charges/Deposit:
The room rates are set by the Ministry of Health & Social Services. These are posted
in each room. Should you request a private or semi private room, you will be asked to pay
the daily rate. If you have insurance, these costs are generally covered by your insurance
company depending on your insurance policy. If you do not have insurance, a 3-day deposit
is required.
Long Term Charges:
Long Term charges will apply when you no longer need active treatment, i.e, when your
medical condition has stabilized. Your doctor will make this decision and you will then be
charged the daily rate of the room that you occupy as per government directives. The
Discharge Department will help you to complete your application.
OTHER CHARGES:
Telephone Costs:
You will be asked to give a deposit of $4.00, upon admission, for the use of the telephone
and there is a charge of $2.00/day.
Dial 9 before placing your call. Should you need to make a long distance call, please dial 0 and inform the Bell Canada Operator how the call will be paid; - your calling card, a collect call, etc. You can also obtain a Card Hello in our Admitting Department.
The use of cellular phones within the hospital may create difficulties with the proper functioning of medical equipment. We ask for your cooperation in not using your cellular phone for the safety and security of our patients.
Ambulance Charges:
Unless a doctor has signed a form stating that you require transportation by ambulance for
medical reasons, you will have to pay the ambulance charges. This applies also to patients
who are 65 and over.
Parking Rates:
We suggest that you have someone bring you to the hospital to avoid the daily rate for
parking. The parking rates are posted at the front entrance (Lacombe Street).
Questions about Hospital Charges:
If you have any questions concerning hospital charges, please contact our Discharge
Department at 734-2670, or pass by the office, Ground floor.
WHAT TO BRING:
The hospital will provide you with a gown. We suggest that you bring a robe, pyjamas/nightgown, (nonslip) slippers , underwear and personal toilet articles (toothbrush, toothpaste, tissues, comb, shaving material, shampoo, etc.). Should you forget any of these articles, or run out, you can purchase these in our Gift Shop on the Ground Floor.
WHILE YOU ARE HERE
Do not bring valuable items, cash or credit cards to the hospital. The hospital is responsible only for valuables and money that have been brought to our Admitting/Discharge Department for safekeeping and for which a receipt has been issued. If you choose to keep valuable items (chains, rings, wedding rings, watches or any other type of jewelry, money) on you or at your bedside, the hospital is not responsible for any loss. Forms are available on the unit for safekeeping.
Lost & Found:
Should you lose any of your personal belongings, report this to your nurse immediately or
contact Security at 345-3511 ext. 3348. Any item that has been turned in to Security is
recorded in a Register with a description of the item.
Dentures, Eye Glasses, Hearing
Aids:
Please place your dentures in your denture cup when you are not wearing them. Do not wrap
your dentures in a tissue or leave them on your tray or in your bedding. Please put your
eyeglasses and hearing aid in your night table when not in use. Should you lose any of
these items, please report this to your nurse immediately and a search will be carried
out.
Radios:
If you bring your radio please use earphones so as to keep the noise level to a minimum
for the comfort of the other patients.
Televisions:
You can rent a television on a daily or weekly basis. Arrangements can be made at the
nursing station. You cannot bring your own T.V. to the hospital.
Electrical Appliances:
Privately owned electrical appliances having a heating or cooling element are not
permitted for use in patient rooms for safety reasons. These include coffee pots, electric
kettles, toasters, etc.
Smoking:
St. Mary’s is a smoke-free institution and we ask you to comply with non-smoking
regulations.
Medication:
Please bring with you a list of all the medication that you take, including the name,
dosage and frequency. This medication will be reviewed before new treatments and
medication are ordered. Generally any medication that you bring with you will be turned
over to your nurse and subsequently given to a member of your family to take home. Should
your medication be kept in safekeeping on the unit, make sure it is given back to you
prior to your discharge.
Mandate:
If you have prepared a document naming someone to speak on your behalf should you be
unable to do so, or have a living will or an advance directive, please inform a member of
your health team as soon as possible after your admission. Forms are available for such
purposes. Please call 734-2618.
FACILITIES, CONVENIENCES &
OTHER SERVICES:
Bank Machine:
An Instabank machine (National Bank of Canada) is located in the Main lobby. Please note
that this is only for withdrawals. You can also access Master Card, Cirrus and Interac at
this machine.
Flowers:
Floral arrangements may be purchased in the Gift Shop located on the ground floor. Flowers
in a patient’s room should be kept to a minimum; small arrangements are preferable.
Plants and flowers are not allowed in the Intensive Care and Cardiac Monitoring Units.
Gift Shop:
The Gift Shop is operated by the Auxiliary of St. Mary’s Hospital and is located in
the Main Lobby. You can buy a variety of items such as gifts, cards, magazines, lingerie ,
toys and baby clothes as well as snacks. Visitors and patients are welcome.
Hairdresser & Barber
Services:
These may be obtained, at your expense, by calling the number posted in the bathroom in
your room.
Mail:
Please arrange for your incoming mail to be addressed as follows:
YOUR NAME with the notation PATIENT, Room No.
St. Mary’s Hospital Center
3830 Lacombe Avenue
Montreal, Québec
H3T 1M5
(If patient is a woman, please use maiden name)
Mobile Cart:
Various items such as magazines, snacks etc. may also be purchased from the Mobile Cart.
Volunteers go to the nursing units with this cart from which you can make your purchases.
Newspapers:
The daily newspapers are available from Vending Machines located in the Main Lobby of the
hospital.
Vending Machines:
Vending Machines are located on the First floor near the Main Cafeteria and on Ground
floor close to the Coffee Shop.
HOURS:
Blood Procurement Centre:
Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
(With the exception of Statutory Holidays)
Visiting Hours:
St. Mary’s has flexible visiting hours.
All Nursing Units including Intensive Care and Long Term have unlimited visiting hours with the following exceptions:
OBSTETRICS:
Husband & close family
07h00 - 20h30
Friends 15h00 - 20h30
PSYCHIATRY:
Every evening 19h00 - 20h00
Weekends & holidays
14h00 - 16h00
We do ask, however for your cooperation regarding the following:
a. respect patients’ rights to privacy and dignity by leaving the room if a procedure is being done unless asked to stay by the patient;
b. respect patients’ rights to quiet time and rest. Please limit both the length of time and the number of visitors to 2 at a time. To respect the well-being of all of our patients, we appreciate your cooperation in keeping the noise level at a minimum.
c. supervise children at all times. Neither the patient nor the nursing staff can assume this responsibility.
Interpreters:
St. Mary’s recognizes the many cultures and languages of our patients. We will try to
find a staff member or community interpreter to help you communicate with the treating
team.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR
MATERNITY PATIENTS:
Fathers’/Family Waiting
Room:
There is a special room in the Case Room for family members who are waiting for the birth
of their child.
Rooming-In:
Following childbirth, after a short period of recovery in the Delivery Room, you and your
baby will be admitted directly to your room in the Obstetrical Area. Your husband/partner,
or someone you choose may stay with you and help to care for your baby during your time in
the hospital. If your baby needs to be watched closely, or if you are too sick to look
after your infant, he/she will be cared for in the Observation Nursery. We will do our
best to provide you with your choice of room (private or semi-private) as soon as one
becomes available.
Circumcisions:
Circumcisions are not covered under Medicare. Should you wish to have your son
circumcised, please speak to the Unit Coordinator who will inform you of the fees of the
paediatrician as well as the hospital charges.
Discharge:
If all goes well, and if you have had a normal vaginal delivery, and this is not your
first baby, you should be able to leave the hospital early. If you have questions or
concerns once you are at home, call our Telephone Hot Line at 345-3511 ext. 3336. A nurse
will be available to help you.
