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Patient Information

Advance Directives
CARE Program
Comments
Chaplain
Concierge Program
Discharge Planning
Ethics Committee
Going Home
Hospital Bill
Outpatient Surgery
Patient Education - Channel 6
Patient Mail
Patient Meals
Patient Rights
Patient Rooms
Rehabilitation Center
Responsibilities as a Patient
Special Needs
Telephone Calls
Valuables and Personal Items


Advance Directives
At Hughston Hospital, we recognize the importance of your participation in all aspects of your care. Executing an Advance Directive is one method that you may choose to express your healthcare choices. Advance Directives are documents written in advance of serious illness which state your choices about medical treatment or name someone to make those choices for you if you are unable to do so.

The Patient Self Determination Act (effective December 1, 1991) mandates that all health care institutions provide adult patients with written information about their rights to make decisions concerning their medical care. Hughston Hospital’s Patient Bill of Rights, Patient Responsibilities and Georgia Advance Directive Healthcare form are included in the Patient Care Information that is given to patients on admission for their convenience and information. This in no way indicates that this facility requires or requests you to execute an Advance Directive. The execution and possession of an Advance Directive is a completely personal choice. The decision is yours.

In accordance with the Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care Act, effective July 1, 2007, the hospital can designate an employee to witness Advance Directive documents for patients. Our Patient CARE Representative is this designee and can witness and Advance Directive document for patients. In the Patient CARE Representative’s absence, a Nursing Supervisor can also assist you. If you have questions or concerns about Advance Directives or are interested in additional information or interested in completing an Advance Directive document, please contact our Patient CARE Representative, 706 – 494 – 2430.

CARE Program
Our staff will do everything we can to make your stay as pleasant as possible. You and the care you receive are very important to us. You and your family can reach the Patient CARE representative anytime by asking a nurse or by calling the CARE line at extension 2430 (outside hospital dial 494-2430).

The Patient CARE representative is available as a source of information and assistance, giving you the opportunity to talk with someone who understands both the view of the hospital and what it’s like to be a patient. The Patient Care Representative is available to you assist when you:

  • need a good listener
  • need information about the hospital and Hughston campus
  • need information about the Columbus area
  • have a specific problem
  • would like a minister to call on you
  • have compliments or complaints, questions or concerns
  • have a difficult decision to make and need more information
  • need information about Advance Directives – Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
  • have questions concerning ethical issues or your rights as a patient

Since the Patient CARE Representative is frequently out of the office taking care of the needs of patients, an answering machine is available to take your message. All calls are answered promptly.

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Comments
You and the care you receive are very important to us. If you have comments please let us know. You may contact the Patient CARE Representative, (706) 494-2430, or through the main switchboard at (706) 494-2100. We also use the Gallup Organization to poll discharged patients. The Gallup Organization randomly selects patients for telephone interviews and you may be chosen to evaluate the care you received.

Chaplain
Clergy from local churches are on call for patients. A nurse on your floor or your Patient CARE Representative will be happy to make the necessary arrangements for you.

Concierge Amenity Program
If you desire our specialized concierge program, you can receive extra amenities to make your stay with us more comfortable. If you would like any of these items waiting in your room upon arrival please call the gift shop at 706-494-2158 and submit your order. You will need to provide a credit card to purchase these items over the phone. You may also purchase these items once you have arrived at the hospital.

Discharge Planning - Dial 2393
A Case Manager will assist you and your family in making arrangements for post-hospital treatment. This could include follow-up therapy, home health care, nursing home placement or medical equipment orders.

Ethics Committee
There may be a time when you have sensitive questions or concerns or a difficult health care decision concerning yourself or a loved one. We have an Ethics Committee in place to assist you at such a time. The Ethics Committee does not make treatment decisions. The goal of the Committee is to help you and your health care team understand all the issues involved in your treatment so that you may make a decision with which you are comfortable. If you need assistance or have questions about this service, call your Patient CARE Representative at extension 2430 or from outside the hospital, (706) 494-2430 or speak with the Nurse Manager on your nursing floor.

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Going Home
After your physician signs a discharge order and your discharge instructions have been explained, a member of our staff will come to your room to assist you through the balance of the discharge process. As you leave the hospital, you or a family member will talk briefly with the cashier to verify your demographic and billing information. A member of our staff will then assist you to your vehicle at the main entrance of the hospital.

Hospital Bill
Hospital bills and insurance claims can be quite confusing. We are committed to servicing your account and making this process as simple as possible for you. A few days after you go home, you will receive a statement reflecting all the charges and payments on your account. Please be aware that this statement reflects only hospital charges. You will receive separate billings from your surgeon, your consulting physician, radiologist, anesthesiologist and pathologist.

If you are an Outpatient and need to stay overnight for any reason, we will assist you and the physician in making sure that your insurance company is made aware of your change in patient status.

Outpatient Surgery
If you have come to the hospital for same day inpatient surgical procedures, outpatient surgical procedures or outpatient epidural steroid injections, you will be admitted through our Outpatient Department. We created our Outpatient Department with you in mind. The Outpatient Department is located next to the Operating Room and the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit. This allows for a streamlined approach for your admission, procedure, recovery period and discharge.

The advantage of having an Outpatient procedure in a hospital setting is the higher level of care that a hospital provides. If for any reason nausea, non-controlled pain or your physician feels that you need to remain overnight, you can easily be transferred upstairs to one of our private rooms. You and the care you receive are our number one priority.

Your Outpatient procedure has been requested by your physician. Laboratory tests, x-rays, electrocardiograms and any other test your physician ordered should be performed before your procedure date. If ordered, an anesthesiologist will also conduct a pre-anesthesia evaluation during this time. This will allow your physician to plan correctly for your care.

The Pre-Admission Testing area is open from 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday- Friday. You can call and schedule your Pre-Admission Testing by calling (706) 494-2441.

We encourage you to take advantage of the Pre-Admission Testing area.

To ensure that your procedure is not canceled, please do not eat or drink after midnight on the day of your procedure. If you have questions, please call the Pre-Admission Testing Nurse, (706) 494-2441.

You may use a small amount of water to brush your teeth. You may also take your morning medication, with a small sip of water, IF your physician has approved them.

Bring all paperwork and x-rays given to you by your physician.
Bring your current insurance cards and a photo ID. If you wear eyeglasses, contacts or dentures, you may be requested to remove them during the procedure. Please bring eyeglasses or contact lens cases with you. Please leave all valuables at home.

Bring a list of your medications with you to the hospital, including the strength and dosage. If you take herbal medications, be sure to include these on the list.

Outpatient Family Waiting - Due to limited space in the Outpatient Rooms, we request only one family member stay in your outpatient room with you while you wait for your procedure.

A Family Waiting Room, adjacent to the Outpatient Department, is available for additional family members. A TV is available in this area and the Hughston Patient Education Channel, Channel 6, has a complete list of program choices.

A Hot Line phone is located in the Family Waiting room should your family members need to talk to someone at the nurse's station. Simply pick up the phone handset and a nurse at the nurse's station will assist you.

Complimentary coffee is also available in the Family Waiting Room.

Outpatient Rest Rooms - Patient rest rooms are located in the Outpatient Area. Visitor rest rooms are located in the hall connecting the Family Waiting Room with the main hospital lobby. Additional rest rooms are also located directly off the main hospital lobby adjacent to the cafeteria.

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Overnight Visitors
A family member may stay overnight with you in your room on the Nursing Floors. Family members may not stay overnight in the Intensive Care Unit. A limited number of Patient Suite Rooms are available. If you are interested in a suite, check with the Admissions Registrar during your admissions process.

There are local hotels in close proximity to the hospital. If you are interested in a local hotel, contact the Nursing Supervisor or the Patient CARE Representative to assist you. We also have listed several hotels with local phone numbers on our web site for your convenience.

Patient Education - Channel 6
The Hughston Patient Education channel offers a variety of programs for your viewing. Tune in to Channel 6 for a complete list of program choices.

Patient Mail
To be sure that you promptly receive your mail and to assist us in forwarding it to you after discharge, please ask your friends and family to address your mail as shown:

Your Name
Your Room Number
Hughston Orthopedic Hospital
100 Frist Court
Columbus, GA 31909

After discharge, we make every effort to forward your mail. If we are unable to do so, it will be returned to sender.

Patient Meals - Dial 2182
You may choose from a menu based on your dietary needs and restrictions. If you have questions or special requests, a registered dietitian is available to assist you.

Patient Rights
As a patient, you have the right to:

  • Safe, considerate, respectful and responsive care.
  • Privacy, confidentiality and security.
  • Admission and services without regard to race, color, national origin, disability or age.
  • Request privacy or opt out status.
  • Information concerning your diagnosis, care, treatment, and services provided, including prognosis, expected and unanticipated outcomes.
  • Know the names and functions of all caregivers.
  • Be free from all forms of abuse to include neglect and exploitation.
  • Know the financial implications of treatment choices.
  • Be involved in and make decisions about care, treatment, and services provided.
  • Refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care.
  • Advance Directives – Living Will, Health Care Proxy, Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare.
  • Access the Hughston Hospital Ethics Committee and information regarding its functions.
  • Expect all communications and records pertaining to your care be treated as confidential.
  • Review your medical records, and if needed have the information explained.
  • Ask and be informed of business relationships between Hughston Hospital and other healthcare providers or payers that may influence your treatment and care.
  • Consent to or decline participation in research studies.
  • Expect continuity of care and be informed of non-hospital patient care options.
  • Know hospital policies related to your care and treatment.
  • Know available resources for resolving disputes, grievances and complaints.
  • Know the hospital’s charges for services and available payment methods.
  • Care appropriate to your age.
  • Management of pain and provision of comfort.
  • Recognition of your spiritual and cultural values.
  • Communication in a manner you can understand.
  • Access protective services and advocacy services.

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Patient Rooms
All patient rooms are private and have been designed with your convenience in mind. To call for assistance from your room, press the nurse call button located in the side rail of your bed. Hand held call buttons are also available if needed.

Your room is equipped with a color television that provides a wide selection of cable networks, movie channels and an In-house patient education channel.

TV controls and speakers are located in the bed side rails. A hand held remote and closed caption service is available if needed

Rehabilitation Center - Dial 6076
During your stay, your diagnosis may allow (or require) that you spend time in our Rehabilitation Center. This center is designed to transition you from an acute stay where you need the highest level of support, to home. The purpose of your rehabilitation program is to assist you in regaining your independence. If you have questions, a member of your rehabilitation team will be happy to assist you.

Responsibilities as a Patient
In developing a cooperative relationship, we look to you to be responsible for:

  • Providing accurate and complete information regarding your health.
  • Reporting changes in your condition to your physician and your healthcare staff.
  • Providing feedback about your service needs and expectations.
  • Vocalizing understanding of our plan of care and our responsibilities in your plan of care.
  • Asking questions when you do not understand your plan of care and treatment.
  • Following the plan of care recommended by your physician, to include keeping appointments or notifying your physician if you are unable to keep an appointment.
  • Your actions and the results of our actions, if you refuse treatment or do not follow your care, treatment and service plan.
  • Your financial obligations resulting from health care.
  • Being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel, this includes assisting in the control of noise, the no smoking policy, and the number of visitors.
  • Being respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital.
  • Following the hospital’s rules and regulations.


Special Needs - Dial 2187
As a patient, you have the right to understand all medical treatments and instructions. If you require assistance as a result of sensory impairment or require a foreign language interpreter, please contact your nurse or the Nursing Supervisor to assist you.

If you have security concerns, have a need for city wide protective services, or any other special concerns, contact your nurse or the Nursing Supervisor to assist you in contacting the appropriate agency.

Telephone

INCOMING CALLS
Your room may be dialed direct from outside the hospital by dialing: (706)494-2 + room number. If you move to another room during your hospital stay, you will have a new phone number corresponding to your new room. We suggest that you give this new number to family and friends to avoid delays or confusion.

LOCAL CALLS
To make a local call from your room, dial 9 and then the number.

LONG DISTANCE CALLS
AT&T is the long distance carrier servicing our hospital. If you need to place a long distance call from your room, dial 9 to reach an outside line. Then dial 1-800-225-5288 to reach the AT&T long distance operator. If you have difficulty, the hospital operator will be glad to assist you.

For your convenience, telephone calling cards may be purchased in the hospital Gift Shop.

Valuables and Personal Items - Dial 0
The hospital is not liable for the loss or damage to money, jewelry, documents or other articles kept in your room. If you would like for Security to secure your valuables in a locked safe, dial 0 for assistance.
 

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As the region's leading provider of healthcare, Columbus Regional Healthcare System has touched the lives of most of the children and adults in this region through its comprehensive network of services. Located in the West Georgia city of Columbus, Columbus Regional was established in 1986 as a not-for-profit health services organization, but its roots can be traced back to 1836 when the local hospital was a small wooden building on the banks of the Chattahoochee River.